Oral Care Implement

ABSTRACT

An oral care implement having electrodes thereon. In one aspect, the oral care implement may include a handle and a head, the head having a transverse through hole defined by an upper surface and a lower surface. A first electrode and a second electrode are located on the head and operably coupled to a power source to have opposite electrical charges. At least one of the first and second electrodes may be located on one of the upper and lower surfaces of the transverse through hole. In some embodiments, the first electrode is located on the upper surface of the transverse through hole and the second electrode is located on the lower surface of the transverse through hole.

BACKGROUND

Toothbrushes are used to clean a person's oral cavity including theteeth and gums. Typically, dentifrice is placed on the bristles of thetoothbrush to act as a cleaning agent. However, dentifrice is not alwaysavailable and when it is available it is not always sufficient forcleaning. Recent developments in toothbrush and dentifrice manufacturehave attempted to find better mechanisms to enhance the cleaning resultduring toothbrushing. Thus, there is a continuing need to develop oralcare implements such as toothbrushes that have an increased cleaningpotential in a wide range of environments.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to an oral care implement havingelectrodes thereon. In one aspect, at least one of the electrodes may bea sacrificial electrode. The electrodes may be recessed relative to anexposed surface of the oral care implement body. The electrodes may bepositioned around or within a soft tissue cleaner. The oral careimplement may include a head having a through-hole, and the electrodesmay be positioned on an upper and/or lower surface of the through-hole.The oral care implement may also include an oral care agent dispensersuch that the electrodes are positioned near or adjacent to the oralcare agent dispenser. The oral care agent dispenser may be a solidrelease polymer or an outlet that is coupled to a reservoir containingan oral care agent.

In one aspect, the invention may be an oral care implement comprising: ahandle; a head coupled to the handle, the head having an exposed outersurface; a first depression formed in the exposed outer surface of thehead; a first sacrificial electrode disposed within the first depressionand having an exposed surface that is recessed relative to the exposedouter surface of the head; a second electrode on the head; and each ofthe first and second electrodes operably coupled to a power source tohave opposite electrical charges.

In another aspect, the invention may be an oral care implementcomprising: a handle; a head coupled to the handle, the head having afront surface and a rear surface opposite the front surface; a pluralityof tooth cleaning elements extending from the front surface of the head;a soft tissue cleaner on the rear surface of the head, the soft tissuecleaner comprising a protuberance field; and a first electrode and asecond electrode each operably coupled to a power source, the first andsecond electrodes spaced apart from one another and substantiallysurrounding the protuberance field.

In yet aspect, the invention may be an oral care implement comprising: ahandle; a head coupled to the handle, the head having a front surfaceand a rear surface opposite the front surface; a plurality of toothcleaning elements extending from the front surface of the head; a softtissue cleaner positioned on the rear surface of the head, the softtissue cleaner comprising a protuberance field; a first electrode and asecond electrode each operably coupled to a power source and located atleast partially within the protuberance field of the soft tissuecleaner; and wherein at least one of the first and second electrodes isa sacrificial electrode.

In still another embodiment, the invention may be an oral care implementcomprising: a handle; a head coupled to the handle, the head having afront surface and a rear surface opposite the front surface; a pluralityof tooth cleaning elements extending from the front surface of the head;a soft tissue cleaner formed of an elastomeric material positioned onthe rear surface of the head; and a first electrode and a secondelectrode each operably coupled to a power source, at least one of thefirst and second electrodes embedded within the elastomeric material ofthe soft tissue cleaner.

In a further embodiment, the invention may be an oral care implementcomprising: a handle; a head coupled to the handle and extending from aproximal end to a distal end along a longitudinal axis, the headcomprising a front surface, a rear surface opposite the front surface,and a side surface extending between the front and rear surfaces; atransverse through-hole extending from a first opening in the sidesurface of the head to a second opening in the side surface of the head,the transverse through-hole forming a passageway through the head thatis bounded by an upper surface and a lower surface; a first electrodeand a second electrode operably coupled to a power source and located onthe head; and wherein the first electrode is located on one of the upperand lower surfaces of the passageway so that an exposed outer surface ofthe first electrode faces the passageway.

In a still further embodiment, the invention may be an oral careimplement comprising: a handle; a head coupled to the handle andcomprising a front surface, a rear surface opposite the front surface,and first and second lateral surfaces extending between the front andrear surfaces; a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from thefront surface of the head; a through-hole formed through the head fromthe first lateral surface of the head to the second lateral surface ofthe head, the through-hole being defined by an upper surface and a lowersurface; a first electrode operably coupled to a power source andlocated on the upper surface of the through-hole; and a second electrodeoperably coupled to the power source and located on the lower surface ofthe through-hole.

In yet another embodiment, the invention may be an oral care implementcomprising: a handle; a head coupled to the handle and comprising anouter surface; a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from theouter surface of the head; at least one oral care agent dispenserlocated on the outer surface of the head; a first electrode and a secondelectrode operably coupled to a power source to have opposite electricalcharges, the first and second electrodes positioned on the outer surfaceof the head adjacent to the oral care agent dispenser; and wherein atleast one of the first and second electrodes is a sacrificial electrode.

In still another embodiment, the invention may be an oral care implementcomprising: a handle; a head coupled to the handle and having a firstsurface and an opposite second surface; a plurality of tooth cleaningelements extending from the first surface of the head; at least one oralcare agent dispenser located on the second surface of the head; a firstelectrode and a second electrode operably coupled to a power source tohave opposite electrical charges, the first and second electrodespositioned on the second surface of the head; and wherein at least oneof the first and second electrodes is a sacrificial electrode.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It shouldbe understood that the detailed description and specific examples, whileindicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended forpurposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope ofthe invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is front perspective view of an oral care implement in accordancewith a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the oral care implement of FIG. 1with tooth cleaning elements removed and illustrating electricalcomponents and connections using dashed lines;

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the oral care implement of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view taken along line IVA-IVA of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along line IVA-IVA of FIG. 2 inaccordance with an alternative embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a close-up view of area V of FIG. 4B;

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of an oral care implement inaccordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of an oral care implement inaccordance with a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the oral care implement of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line X-X of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of an oral care implement inaccordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a rear perspective view of the oral care implement of FIG.11;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a front perspective view of an oral care implement inaccordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a rear perspective view of the oral care implement of FIG. 14

FIG. 16A is a cross-sectional view taken along line XVIA-XVIA of FIG. 15in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 16B is a cross-sectional view taken along line XVIA-XVIA of FIG. 15in accordance with another embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a front perspective view of an oral care implement inaccordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a rear perspective view of the oral care implement of FIG.17;

FIG. 19A is a cross-sectional view taken along line IXA-IXA of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19B is a cross-sectional view taken along line IXA-IXA of FIG. 17in accordance with a first alternative embodiment;

FIG. 19C is a cross-sectional view taken along line IXA-IXA of FIG. 17in accordance with a second alternative embodiment;

FIG. 20 is a front perspective view of an oral care implement inaccordance with a seventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a rear perspective view of the oral care implement of FIG.20;

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXII-XXII of FIG. 20;

FIG. 23 is a rear perspective view of an oral care implement inaccordance with an eighth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXIV-XXIV of FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is a rear perspective view of an oral care implement inaccordance with an ninth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXVI-XXVI of FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is a rear perspective view of an oral care implement inaccordance with an tenth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXVIII-XXVIII of FIG.27.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merelyexemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention,its application, or uses.

The description of illustrative embodiments according to principles ofthe present invention is intended to be read in connection with theaccompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entirewritten description. In the description of embodiments of the inventiondisclosed herein, any reference to direction or orientation is merelyintended for convenience of description and is not intended in any wayto limit the scope of the present invention. Relative terms such as“lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “above,” “below,” “up,”“down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivatives thereof (e.g.,“horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed torefer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawingunder discussion. These relative terms are for convenience ofdescription only and do not require that the apparatus be constructed oroperated in a particular orientation unless explicitly indicated assuch. Terms such as “attached,” “affixed,” “connected,” “coupled,”“interconnected,” and similar refer to a relationship wherein structuresare secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectlythrough intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigidattachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise.Moreover, the features and benefits of the invention are illustrated byreference to the exemplified embodiments. Accordingly, the inventionexpressly should not be limited to such exemplary embodimentsillustrating some possible non-limiting combination of features that mayexist alone or in other combinations of features; the scope of theinvention being defined by the claims appended hereto.

As used throughout, ranges are used as shorthand for describing each andevery value that is within the range. Any value within the range can beselected as the terminus of the range. In addition, all references citedherein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. In theevent of a conflict in a definition in the present disclosure and thatof a cited reference, the present disclosure controls.

Referring first to FIG. 1, an oral care implement 100 is illustrated inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In theexemplified embodiment, the oral care implement 100 is in the form of amanual toothbrush. However, in certain other embodiments the oral careimplement 100 can take on other forms such as being a powered toothbrush(having a vibrating or otherwise moving head/cleaning element section),a tongue scraper, a gum and soft tissue cleanser, a water pick, aninterdental device, a tooth polisher, a specially designed ansateimplement having tooth engaging elements or any other type of implementthat is commonly used for oral care. Furthermore, although describedherein as being an oral care implement, the inventive device may also bea personal care implement such that it is an implement used for personalcare but not necessarily for oral care, such as a razor, a hairbrush, amakeup applicator, or the like. Thus, it is to be understood that theinventive concepts discussed herein can be applied to any type of oralcare implement or personal care implement unless a specific type of oralcare implement or personal care implement is specified in the claims.

The oral care implement 100 generally includes an elongated body 101comprising a head 110, a neck 115 and a handle 120. The handle 120extends from a distal end 121 to a proximal end 122 and the head 110extends from a proximal end 111 to a distal end 112. The neck 115extends between the proximal end 122 of the handle 120 and the proximalend 111 of the head 110. The oral care implement 100 extends along alongitudinal axis A-A from the distal end 121 of the handle 120 to thedistal end 112 of the head 110. The head 110 also extends along thelongitudinal axis A-A from the proximal end 111 to the distal end 112.

The handle 120 is an elongated structure that provides the mechanism bywhich the user can hold and manipulate the oral care implement 100during use. In the exemplified embodiment, the handle 120 is genericallydepicted having various contours for user comfort. More specifically, inthe exemplified embodiment the handle 120 is bulbous shaped and has alarger diameter in a central region than near the distal end 121 and theneck 115. Specifically, a region of the handle 120 that would normallybe gripped by a user's thumb has a width that is greater than a width ofthe neck 115. Of course, the invention is not to be so limited in allembodiments and in certain other embodiments the handle 120 can take ona wide variety of shapes, contours and configurations, none of which arelimiting of the present invention unless so specified in the claims.

In the exemplified embodiment, the handle 120 is formed of a rigidplastic material, such as for example without limitation polymers andcopolymers of ethylene, propylene, butadiene, vinyl compounds andpolyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate. Of course, the inventionis not to be so limited in all embodiments and the handle 120 mayinclude a resilient material, such as a thermoplastic elastomer, as agrip cover that is molded over portions of or the entirety of the handle120 to enhance the gripability of the handle 120 during use. Forexample, portions of the handle 120 that are typically gripped by auser's palm during use may be overmolded with a thermoplastic elastomeror other resilient material to further increase comfort to a user.

The head 110 of the oral care implement 100 is coupled to the handle 120and comprises an exposed outer surface that includes a front surface113, an opposing rear surface 114, and a side surface 116 extendingbetween the front and rear surfaces 113, 114. The exposed outer surfaceof the head 110 is any portion of the head 110 that is directly exposedto the ambient environment and is visible to a viewer. In theexemplified embodiment, the head 110 is formed integrally with thehandle 120 as a single unitary structure using a molding, milling,machining or other suitable process. However, in other embodiments thehandle 120 and the head 110 may be formed as separate components whichare operably connected at a later stage of the manufacturing process byany suitable technique known in the art, including without limitationthermal or ultrasonic welding, a tight-fit assembly, a coupling sleeve,threaded engagement, adhesion, or fasteners.

In the exemplified embodiment, the head 110 of the oral care implement100 is provided with a plurality of tooth cleaning elements 101extending from the front surface 113. The tooth cleaning elements 101collectively form a tooth cleaning element field 102 that comprises adistal-most cleaning element 103 located adjacent the distal end 112 ofthe head 110 and a proximal-most cleaning element 104 located adjacentthe proximal end 111 of the head 110.

Although in the exemplified embodiment all of the tooth cleaningelements 101 appear to be the same in terms of material, structure,shape, and length, the invention is not to be so limited in allembodiments. Thus, the exact structure, pattern, orientation andmaterial of the tooth cleaning elements 101 is not to be limiting of thepresent invention unless so specified in the claims. Thus, as usedherein, the term “tooth cleaning elements” is used in a generic sense torefer to any structure that can be used to clean, polish or wipe theteeth and/or soft oral tissue (e.g. tongue, cheek, gums, etc.) throughrelative surface contact. Common examples of “tooth cleaning elements”include, without limitation, bristle tufts, filament bristles, fiberbristles, nylon bristles, multi-component bristles including spiralbristles and core-sheath bristles, rubber bristles, elastomericprotrusions, flexible polymer protrusions, combinations thereof and/orstructures containing such materials or combinations. Suitableelastomeric materials include any biocompatible resilient materialsuitable for uses in an oral hygiene apparatus. To provide optimumcomfort as well as cleaning benefits, the elastomeric material of thetooth or soft tissue engaging elements has a hardness property in therange of A8 to A25 Shore hardness. One suitable elastomeric material isstyrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene block copolymer (SEBS) manufactured byGLS Corporation. Nevertheless, SEBS material from other manufacturers orother materials within and outside the noted hardness range could beused.

The tooth cleaning elements 101 of the present invention can beconnected to the head 110 in any manner known in the art. For example,staples/anchors, in-mold tufting (IMT) or anchor free tufting (AFT)could be used to mount the cleaning elements/tooth engaging elements. Incertain embodiments, the invention can be practiced with variouscombinations of stapled, IMT or AFT bristles. In AFT, a plate ormembrane is secured to the brush head such as by ultrasonic welding. Thebristles extend through the plate or membrane. The free ends of thebristles on one side of the plate or membrane perform the cleaningfunction. The ends of the bristles on the other side of the plate ormembrane are melted together by heat to be anchored in place. Anysuitable form of cleaning elements may be used in the broad practice ofthis invention. Alternatively, the bristles could be mounted to tuftblocks or sections by extending through suitable openings in the tuftblocks so that the base of the bristles is mounted within or below thetuft block.

In the exemplified embodiment, the head 110 of the oral care implement100 comprises a plurality of tuft holes 102 (FIG. 2) formed therein. Aplurality of tufts of bristles are positioned within and affixed to thehead 110 within each of the tuft holes. Each of the tufts of bristlesincludes a plurality of bristles, which can be single strand bristles,double strand multi-component bristles, triple strand multi-componentbristles, etc. or various combinations thereof. Additionally, a singletuft hole may be filled with an elastomeric cleaning element or any ofthe other types of cleaning elements noted above.

Although not illustrated herein in this embodiment (shown and describedin more detail below with reference to FIGS. 12, 13, 15, 16A, 16B), incertain embodiments the head 110 may also include a soft tissue cleansercoupled to or positioned on its rear surface 113. An example of asuitable soft tissue cleanser that may be used with the presentinvention and positioned on the rear surface 114 of the head 110 isdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,143,462, issued Dec. 5, 2006 to theassignee of the present application, the entirety of which is herebyincorporated by reference. In certain other embodiments, the soft tissuecleanser may include protuberances, which can take the form of elongatedridges, nubs, or combinations thereof. Of course, the invention is notto be so limited and in certain embodiments the oral care implement 100may not include any soft tissue cleanser.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3 concurrently, the oral care implement 100includes a power source 150, a first electrode 210 and a secondelectrode 220. In the exemplified embodiment, the power source 150 islocated within the handle 120 of the oral care implement 100, but thepower source 150 may be located in the neck 115 or the head 110 in otherembodiments or power may be provided to the electrodes via an externalpower source. In the exemplified embodiment, the power source 150 is abattery. However, any power source may be used including solar power orthe like. In fact, in some embodiments the oral care implement 100 mayinclude a power cord so that the oral care implement 100 may be coupleddirectly to a wall socket as the power source. In other embodiments, thepower source may be residual power that is configured to provide acharge to the first and second electrodes 210, 220 during use of theoral care implement 100. The power source 150 is coupled to the firstand second electrodes 210, 220 that are located on the oral careimplement 100 as will be described in greater detail below.

A closed circuit is formed between the power source 150 and the firstand second electrodes 210, 220 when an electrolyte (e.g., a user'ssaliva or a toothpaste slurry) extends between a pair of the first andsecond electrodes 210, 220, which have opposite charges as describedherein below. Thus, when the power source 150 is activated, anelectrical field is created between the pair of the first and secondelectrodes 210, 220. More specifically, the electrodes 210, 220 may bepositioned to act as an anode and a cathode (i.e., by having oppositecharges). One of the electrodes 210, 220 may always be an anode whilethe other electrode 120, 220 is always a cathode, or they may switchduring operation. The toothbrush may also include a controller and/oradditional electronics. For example, the controller may control currentand/or voltage from the power source 150 to the electrodes 210, 220. Insome embodiments, the controller may alternate the current through theelectrodes 210, 220 and/or otherwise control the current, such asthrough pulse width modulation or alternating the current through thecoils, to achieve desired activation sequences of the electrodes 210,220. The controller may also include a timing mechanism, such that theelectrodes 210, 220 are activated for a predetermined time, for example.

In one embodiment, at least one of the first and second electrodes 210,220 is a sacrificial electrode (made of a sacrificial metal such aszinc, copper, silver, or the like) and passing a current from the powersource 150 to the first and second electrodes 210, 220 causes thesacrificial electrode(s) to oxidize and release ions. This process andits benefits will be described more thoroughly below. Thus, providingelectrical current to the electrode system may be useful to provide oralhealth benefits in addition to the benefits obtained by use of the toothcleaning elements 101. The electrode system may be controlled, at leastin part, by a user operating the oral care implement 100 via an actuatorcomponent.

Specifically, in the exemplified embodiment the oral care implement 100comprises an actuator component 105 positioned on the handle 120 andoperably coupled to the power source 150 or to the conductors thatcouple the electrodes 210, 220 to the power source 150. The actuatorcomponent 105 may be a switch (such as a button switch, a slide switch,a toggle switch, a conductive capacitor-type switch or the like) thatdictates whether or not current is supplied from the power source 150 tothe electrodes 210, 220 of the oral care implement 100. Thus, if theactuator component 105 is in a first position, a circuit is closed andcurrent is supplied from the power source 150 to the electricalcomponents of the oral care implement 100 whereas if the actuatorcomponent 150 is in a second position, the circuit is open and power isnot able to be supplied from the power source 150 to the electricalcomponents of the oral care implement 100. In other embodiments, theactuator component 105 may be omitted and an electric field may begenerated between the first and second electrodes 210, 220 when anelectrolyte (i.e., saliva) spans between one of the first and secondelectrodes 210, 220.

In certain embodiments, at least one of the first and second electrodes210, 220 may be a sacrificial electrode. Specifically, in someembodiments the first electrode 210 may be a sacrificial electrode whilethe second electrode 220 is not. In other embodiments the secondelectrode 220 may be a sacrificial electrode while the first electrode210 is not. In still other embodiments, both of the first and secondelectrodes 210, 220 (or all of the first electrodes 210 and all of thesecond electrodes 220 when there is more than one of each as discussedin greater detail below) may be sacrificial electrodes. A sacrificialelectrode includes a sacrificial metal, and when current is applied tothe first and second electrodes 210, 220, the sacrificial electrodegives up ions by oxidizing. In one presently preferred embodiment, thesacrificial electrode includes zinc and the presence of an electricalpotential oxidizes the zinc to release Zn²⁺. Zinc ions areconventionally known to provide oral health benefits including forexample anti-bacterial benefits. In this example, the zinc ions arereleased from at least one of the first and second electrodes 210, 220(whichever is a sacrificial electrode) and into the user's oral cavityto provide the user with anti-bacterial benefits. In some embodimentsthe sacrificial electrode may be formed entirely from the sacrificialmetal, whereas in other embodiments the sacrificial electrode may beplated with the sacrificial metal.

As mentioned above, the sacrificial metal may be zinc, but the inventionis not to be so limited in all embodiments. In other implementations,for example, the sacrificial electrode may include different metals thatcan be oxidized to provide ions that give alternative oral benefits. Forexample, tin ions, i.e., Sn2+ and Sn4+ have known oral health benefitsand the sacrificial electrode could include tin. Moreover, the oxidationof iron and/or manganese can drive the formation of hydroxide radicalsfrom hydrogen peroxide, e.g., via the fenton reaction, which may provideother benefits in the oral cavity. Furthermore, different sacrificialmetals may be used on different ones of the sacrificial electrodes.Thus, combinations of electrodes including zinc, tin, iron, manganese,or the like may be used on the oral care implement 100.

The exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings and described hereinillustrate example devices related to oral health that incorporateelectrodes. In certain embodiments, at least one of the electrodes is asacrificial electrode, made of a sacrificial metal. For example, thesacrificial electrode may be made of zinc, which may be 90% or more purezinc. When an electrical potential is produced across the electrodes,zinc ions are released into an electrolyte, which may be saliva, water,or a dentifrice. In embodiments of this disclosure, the electrolyte isthen transferred to the oral cavity to provide a benefit to the oralcavity. For example, when zinc is used as the sacrificial metal, theelectrolytic fluid will carry zinc ions, which act as an antibacterialagent in the oral cavity. Other sacrificial metals, such as iron, ortin, may also or alternatively be used, to provide other or additionaloral benefits. When the electrolyte used is a dentifrice solution, suchas a mouthwash or tooth whitening agent, the electrodes may also act toactivate components in the dentifrice. The zinc or other ions mayenhance already existing products, including those whose originalpurpose may have been other than therapeutic. The oral care implement100 may in some embodiments include sacrificial electrodes comprisingzinc and sacrificial electrodes including one or more of tin, iron,manganese, or the like to provide a user with multiple benefits.

Controlling a current flowing between the first and second electrodesmay be used to promote additional oral health benefits, to supplementthe actions of the tooth cleaning elements. For example, the electrodesmay interact with specific ingredients in a dentifrice slurry byconverting relatively stable precursors in the dentifrice to activeoxygen species and other therapeutic molecules. By way of non-limitingexample, a slurry may be acted upon by the electrodes to generateoxidizing agents, such as Cl₂, OCl⁻, and/or HOCl. In still otherexamples, the electrodes may be used to generate directly beneficialagents. For example, when one of the electrodes is made of zinc,selective energizing of the electrodes can generate different Zn²⁺species, which are effective anti-bacterial agents. In further examplesstill, the electrodes may be used to promote tooth-uptake of fluorine.The electrodes may also be used to suppress or mask breath or mouthmalodor.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4A concurrently, in the exemplified embodiment thefirst and second electrodes 210, 220 are positioned on the head 110 ofthe oral care implement 100. During use of the oral care implement 100to cleanse a user's teeth and other oral cavity surfaces, the head 110is placed in the user's oral cavity and current is passed through thefirst and second electrodes 210, 220 to provide an electrochemicalbenefit in the oral cavity. As mentioned above, the benefit may includethe release of ions or the like upon degradation of at least one of thefirst and second electrodes 210, 220 (when it is a sacrificialelectrode). To promote the release of ions into the oral cavity, thefirst and second electrodes may be exposed to the environment of theoral cavity such that saliva and/or toothpaste slurry can act as anelectrolytic solution.

In the exemplified embodiment, the oral care implement 100 includesthree of the first electrodes 210 and three of the second electrodes220, although more or less than three of each of the first and secondelectrodes 210, 220 may be used in other embodiments. Each of the firstelectrodes 210 is operably coupled to one of the positive and negativeterminals of the power source 150 via a first electrical conductor(i.e., wire) 151 and each of the second electrodes 220 is operablycoupled to the other of the positive and negative terminals of the powersource 150 via a second electrical conductor (i.e., wire) 152. Thus, thefirst and second electrodes 210, 220 have an opposite electrical charge(the first electrodes 210 may have a positive charge (cathodes) whilethe second electrodes 220 have a negative charge (anodes) or the firstelectrodes 210 may have a negative charge while the second electrodes220 have a positive charge).

In the exemplified embodiment, a first depression 160 and a seconddepression 170 are formed into the exposed outer surface of the head110. More specifically, three of the first depressions 160 are formedinto the front surface 113 of the head 110 and three of the seconddepressions 170 are formed into the rear surface 114 of the head 110. Inthe exemplified embodiment, each of the first electrodes 210 ispositioned within one of the first depressions 160 and each of thesecond electrodes 220 is positioned within one of the second depressions170. Of course, the first electrodes 210 need not be positioned solelyon the front surface 113 of the head 110 and the second electrodes 220need not be positioned solely on the rear surface 114 of the head 110 inall embodiments. Rather, in some embodiments there may be at least oneof the first and second electrodes 210, 220 positioned on each of thefront and rear surfaces 113, 114 of the head 110. Thus, one of the firstelectrodes 210 may be positioned within one of the second depressions170 on the rear surface 114 of the head 110 and one of the secondelectrodes 220 may be positioned within one of the first depressions 160on the front surface 113 of the head 110. Various combinations for thepositioning of the first and second electrodes 210, 220 are possiblewithin the scope of the disclosure set forth herein.

Due to the depth of the first and second depressions 160, 170 asdiscussed in more detail below with specific reference to FIG. 5, eachof the first and second electrodes 210, 220 is recessed relative to theexposed outer surface of the head 110. Specifically, with reference tothe exemplified embodiment, each of the first electrodes 210 is recessedrelative to the front surface 113 of the head 110 and each of the secondelectrodes 220 is recessed relative to the rear surface 114 of the head110. Thus, the first and second electrodes 210, 220 are sunken into thehead 110 such that they are not flush with the exposed outer surface ofthe head 110 and they do not protrude from the exposed outer surface ofthe head 110.

Referring to FIG. 4A, each of the first electrodes 210 has an exposedsurface 211. The exposed surfaces 211 of the first electrodes 210 areexposed to a viewer who is viewing the outer surface of the head 110,and more particularly the front surface 113 of the head 110.Furthermore, the exposed surfaces 211 of the first electrodes 210 arerecessed relative to the front surface 113 of the head 110. Similarly,each of the second electrodes 220 has an exposed surface 221. Theexposed surfaces 221 of the second electrodes 220 are exposed to aviewer who is viewing the outer surface of the head 110, and moreparticularly the rear surface 114 of the head 110. Furthermore, theexposed surfaces 221 of the second electrodes 220 are recessed relativeto the rear surface 114 of the head 110.

Of course, at mentioned above the first electrodes 210 need not be onthe front surface 113 of the head 110 in all embodiments and the secondelectrodes 220 need not be on the rear surface 114 of the head 110 inall embodiments. However, regardless of the exact location of the firstand second electrodes 210, 220 on the head 110, the exposed surfaces211, 221 of the first and second electrodes 210, 220 are recessedrelative to the portion of the exposed outer surface of the head 110that is adjacent to the respective one of the first and secondelectrodes 210, 220. Thus, the first and second electrodes 210, 220 aresurrounded by a portion of the head 110 that protrudes beyond theexposed surfaces 211, 221 of the first and second electrodes 210, 220.By recessing the first and second electrodes 210, 220 within the head110, the risk of a user feeling an electric shock during use of the oralcare implement 100 is reduced if not eliminated.

Still referring to FIG. 4A, in the exemplified embodiment a cover member290 is positioned over one of the first electrodes 210. The cover member290 is illustrated generically using dotted lines, but it should beappreciated that the size, shape, and other structure of the covermember 290 is not to be limited based on that which is illustrated inthe drawings. Specifically, the cover member 290 is any structure thatcan cover one or more of the first and second electrodes 210, 220 tofurther reduce the likelihood that a user's oral surfaces will come intodirect contact with one of the first and second electrodes 210, 220.

In the exemplified embodiment, the cover member 290 is positioned overonly one of the first electrodes 210. However, the invention is not tobe so limited and in other embodiments each of the first and secondelectrodes 210, 220 may be covered by the cover member 290. Stillfurther, various ones of the first and second electrodes 210, 220 may becovered by or not covered by the cover member 290. In some embodiments,the first and second electrodes 210, 220 need not be recessed relativeto the outer surface of the head 110 because direct contact between auser's oral surfaces and the first and second electrodes 210, 220 may beprevented by the cover member 290. Thus, i some embodiments each of theelectrodes 210, 220 that is recessed relative to the outer surface ofthe head 110 may be left uncovered whereas each of the electrodes 210,220 that is flush with or protrudes from the outer surface of the head110 may be covered by the cover member 290.

Such a cover member 290 may be formed of a mesh material or othermaterial that is porous to liquid so that liquid such as saliva andtoothpaste slurry can pass through the cover member 290 to act as anelectrolyte and form an electric field between the first and secondelectrodes 210, 220 as described herein. The cover member 290 may beconsidered a permeable cover or screen in some embodiments because it ispermeable to liquid. Thus, the cover member 290 prevents a user's oralcavity surfaces (tongue, gums, inner surfaces of the cheeks) fromdirectly contacting the electrodes 210, 220 while permitting saliva andtoothpaste slurry and other oral care agents as described herein tocontact the electrodes 210, 220.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, 4B and 5 concurrently, the first and seconddepressions 160, 170 and the first and second electrodes 210, 220 willbe described in greater detail. In the exemplified embodiment, each ofthe first depressions 160 is a first elongated groove 165 that extendsalong a first groove axis B-B. In the exemplified embodiment, the firstdepressions 160 extends across the entirety of the front surface 113 ofthe head 110 in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis A-A.Furthermore, each of the first depressions 160 extends from a first openend located on the side surface 116 of the head 110 on a first side ofthe longitudinal axis A-A to a second open end located on the sidesurface 116 of the head 110 on an opposite side of the longitudinal axisA-A.

Each of the first depressions 160 is formed by opposing upstandingsidewalls 161 and a floor 162. In the exemplified embodiment the floor162 has a contoured shape such that the first depressions 160 areU-shaped in cross-section. However, the invention is not to be solimited in all embodiments and the floor 162 of the first depression 160may be linear and perpendicular to the upstanding sidewalls 161 in someembodiments so that the first depressions 160 are square or rectangularin cross-section. Alternatively, the sidewalls 161 may meet at an apexat the bottom of the first depression 160 such that the firstdepressions 160 have a V-shaped cross-sectional shape.

In the exemplified embodiment, one of the first electrodes 210 ispositioned within each of the first depressions 160 so that the firstelectrode 210 covers the floor 162 of the first depression 160. In theexemplified embodiment, the first electrodes 210 have a shape thatmatches with the cross-sectional shape of a bottom portion of the firstdepression 160. However, the invention is not to be particularly limitedby the shapes of the first electrodes 210 in all embodiments. The firstelongated groove 165 of the first depression 160 is defined by theupstanding sidewalls 161 and the exposed surface 211 of the firstelectrode 210 that is positioned within the first depression 160. Thus,the floor of the first elongate groove 165 is formed by the exposedsurface 211 of the first electrode 210. In the exemplified embodiment,an entirety of the floor of each of the first grooves 165 is formed bythe exposed surface 211 of the one of the first electrodes 210 that ispositioned within the respective first depression 160. However, in otherembodiments the first electrodes 210 may only cover a portion of thefloor 162 of the first depression 160.

Similarly, each of the second depressions 170 is a second elongatedgroove 165 that extends along a second groove axis C-C. In theexemplified embodiment, the second depressions 170 extend across theentirety of the rear surface 114 of the head 110 in a directiontransverse to the longitudinal axis A-A. Furthermore, the seconddepressions 170 extend from a first open end located on the side surface116 of the head 110 on a first side of the longitudinal axis A-A to asecond open end located on the side surface 116 of the head 110 on anopposite side of the longitudinal axis A-A.

Each of the second depressions 170 is formed by opposing upstandingsidewalls 171 and a floor 172. The floor 172 is contoured similar to thefloor 162, but need not be in all embodiments as described above. In theexemplified embodiment, the second electrodes 220 have a shape thatmatches with the cross-sectional shape of a bottom portion of the seconddepression 170. However, the invention is not to be particularly limitedby the shapes of the second electrodes 220 in all embodiments. In theexemplified embodiment, one of the second electrodes 220 is positionedwithin each of the second depressions 170 so that the second electrode220 covers the floor 172 of the second depression 160 within which it ispositioned. The second elongated groove 175 of the second depression 170is defined by the upstanding sidewalls 171 and the exposed surface 221of the second electrode 220 that is positioned within the seconddepression 170. Thus, the floor of the second elongated groove 175 isformed by the exposed surface 221 of the second electrode 220. In theexemplified embodiment, an entirety of the floor 172 of each of thesecond grooves 175 is formed by the exposed surface 221 of the one ofthe second electrodes 220 that is positioned within the respectivesecond depression 170. However, in other embodiments the secondelectrodes 220 may only cover a portion of the floor 172 of the seconddepression 170.

In the exemplified embodiment, each of the first depressions 160 iselongated in a direction of the first groove axis B-B and each of thesecond depressions 170 is elongated in a direction of the second grooveaxis C-C. Furthermore, the first and second depressions 160, 170 have asemi-cylindrical shape. Furthermore, in the exemplified embodiment thefirst and second electrodes 210, 220 have semi-circular cross-sectionalshapes and may have semi-cylindrical shapes and be elongated in thedirection of the first and second groove axes B-B, C-C, respectively.Thus, in the exemplified embodiment the first and second electrodes 210,220 nest neatly within the first and second depressions 160, 170.However, the invention is not to be so limited and the shapes of thefirst and second depression 160, 170 and the first and second electrodes210, 220 shown in the drawings are merely exemplary in nature and arenot intended to be limiting of the present invention in all embodiments.

In the exemplified embodiment, the first and second depressions 160, 170and the first and second electrodes 210, 220 are linear and they extendin a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis A-A. Thus, the firstand second groove axes B-B, C-C are transverse or perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis A-A. In other embodiments, the first and seconddepressions 160, 170 and the first and second electrodes 210, 220 may benon-linear such as being arcuate, contoured, wavy, or the like as theyextend in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal axis A-A.In still other embodiments, the first and second depressions 160, 170may not extend in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis A-A atall, but rather may extend so as to be oriented oblique or even parallelrelative to the longitudinal axis A-A. In still other embodiments thefirst electrodes 210 may be annular or ring-shaped and the secondelectrodes 220 may be annular or ring-shaped. In some embodiments, thefirst and second electrodes 210, 220 may not be elongated at all, butrather may be circular or polygonal shaped and they may form aclosed-geometry along the front and/or rear surfaces 113, 114 of thehead 110 on which they are positioned.

In the exemplified embodiment, a single one of the first electrodes 210is positioned within each of the first depressions 160 and a single oneof the second electrodes 220 is positioned within each of the seconddepressions 170. However, the invention is not to be so limited and insome other embodiments there may be a plurality of the first electrodes210 positioned in a spaced apart manner within each of the firstdepressions 160 and a plurality of the second electrodes 220 positionedin a spaced apart manner within each of the second depressions 170.Thus, there are many possible permutations regarding the size and shapeof the first and second depressions 160, 170 and the first and secondelectrodes 210, 220. In some embodiments, it is merely necessary thatthe first and second electrodes 210, 220 are positioned in the first andsecond depressions 160, 170, respectively, in such a manner so that theexposed surfaces 211, 221 of the first and second electrodes 210, 220are recessed relative to the exposed outer surface (i.e., the frontsurface 113, the rear surface 114, the side surface 116) of the head 110on which that particular one of the first and/or second electrodes 210,220 is located.

In the exemplified embodiment the first electrodes 210 are located onthe front surface 113 of the head 110 and the second electrodes 220 arelocated on the rear surface 114 of the head 110. However, the inventionis not to be so limited in all embodiments and in certain otherembodiments at least one of the first electrodes 210 and at least one ofthe second electrodes 220 may be positioned on the front surface 113and/or the rear surface 114 of the head 110. Thus, the front and/or rearsurfaces 113, 114 of the head 110 may include at least one of each ofthe first and second electrodes 210, 220.

In the exemplified embodiment, only the first electrodes 210 arepositioned on the front surface 113 of the head 110 and only the secondelectrodes 220 are positioned on the rear surface 114 of the head 110.The first electrodes 210 extend along the first groove axes B-B whichare transverse to the longitudinal axis A-A and the second electrodes220 extend along the second groove axes C-C which are transverse to thelongitudinal axis A-A. More specifically, the first electrodes 210 arelocated on the head 110 in an axially spaced apart manner such that eachof the first electrodes 210 on the front surface 113 of the head 110 isspaced apart from each of the other first electrodes 210 on the frontsurface 113 of the head 110. The second electrodes 220 are located onthe head 110 in an axially spaced apart manner such that each of thesecond electrodes 220 on the rear surface 114 of the head 110 are spacedapart from each of the other second electrodes 220, on the rear surface114 of the head 110.

In the exemplified embodiment, each of the first electrodes 210 on thefront surface 113 of the head 110 is axially spaced apart from each ofthe second electrodes 220 on the rear surface 114 of the head 110. Thefirst electrodes 210 and the second electrodes 220 are on opposite sidesof the head 110 but are axially offset in their positioning on the head110. Thus, a plane that is perpendicular to the front and rear surfaces113, 114 of the head 110 that intersects one of the first electrodes 210does not intersect any of the second electrodes 220. Stated another way,no plane perpendicular to the front and rear surfaces 113, 114 of thehead 110 intersects more than one of the plurality of first and secondelectrodes 210, 220. Moving in a direction along the longitudinal axisfrom the proximal end 111 of the head 110 to the distal end 112 of thehead 110, the first and second electrodes 210, 220 are positioned in analternating arrangement.

In the exemplified embodiment, a portion of each of the first electrodes210 and a portion of each of the second electrodes 220 also extends ontothe side surface 116 of the head 110. The portions of the first andsecond electrodes 210, 220 at least partially overlap in the axialdirection on the side surface 116 of the head 110 such that a referenceplane that is parallel to the front surface 113 of the head 110intersects the portions of each of the first and second electrodes 210,220. To explain a different way, the first electrode 210 terminates in adistal end 212 that is located closer to the rear surface 114 of thehead 110 than a distal end 222 of the second electrode 210 (similarlythe distal end 222 of the second electrode 220 is closer to the frontsurface 113 of the head 110 than the distal end 212 of the firstelectrode 210). Thus, although the first and second electrodes 210, 220are axially spaced apart, they extend a sufficient distance onto theside surface 116 of the head 110 so that they overlap in the axialdirection. This maintains the first and second electrodes 210, 220sufficiently close together to ensure that saliva and/or toothpasteslurry will contact one of the first electrodes 210 and one of thesecond electrodes 220 while extending between the first and secondelectrodes 210, 220 to create an electric field as discussed herein.

Furthermore, as noted above the tooth cleaning element field 102 isbounded axially by the distal-most cleaning element 103 and theproximal-most cleaning element 104. In the exemplified embodiment, thefirst electrodes 210 and the second electrodes 220 are each locatedalong a transverse reference plane that is located between thedistal-most and proximal-most cleaning elements 103, 104 of the toothcleaning element field 102. Thus, in the exemplified embodiment none ofthe first and second electrodes 210, 220 is positioned axially beyondthe bounds of the tooth cleaning element field 102.

Referring to FIG. 5, one of the first depressions 160 with one of thefirst electrodes 210 therein is illustrated. The discussion of FIG. 5 isrelevant to each of the first and second depressions 160, 170 when oneof the first and second electrodes 210, 220 is positioned therein. Thus,although width and depth dimensions are provided below referringspecifically to one of the first depressions 160 and one of the firstelectrodes 210, the description may be applicable to each of the firstdepressions 160 and first electrodes 210 and to each of the seconddepressions 170 and second electrodes 220.

In the exemplified embodiment, the first depression 160 has a firstwidth W1. Furthermore, the exposed surface 211 of the first electrode210 is recessed a first depth D1 from the exposed outer surface (i.e.,the front surface 113) of the head 110. Stated another way, the firstgroove 165 has a first depth D1 measured from the front surface 113 ofthe head 110 to the floor of the first groove 165, which is formed bythe exposed surface 211 of the first electrode 210. In the exemplifiedembodiment, the first depth D1 is equal to or greater than the firstwidth W1. In some embodiments, the first depth D1 is greater than thefirst width W1. In some embodiments, the ratio of the first depth D1 tothe first width W1 may be between 4:1 and 1:1, and more specificallybetween 3:1 and 1.5:1. By recessing the exposed surface 211 of the firstelectrode 210 a greater distance than the width W1 of the firstdepression 160, the likelihood of a user feeling an electric shock fromthe first electrode 210 is further decreased because it will be verydifficult if not impossible for a user to directly contact his/her oralsurfaces (inner cheek surfaces, tongue, gums, etc.) to the firstelectrode 161.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7 concurrently, an oral care implement 300 willbe described in accordance with another embodiment of the presentinvention. Certain features of the oral care implement 300 areillustrated in the drawings but not described herein, it beingunderstood that the description of the similar feature of the oral careimplement 100 provided above is applicable. The oral care implement 300generally comprises a head 310, a handle 320, and a neck 315 extendingbetween the handle 320 and the head 310. In this embodiment, a pluralityof depressions 330 are formed into the neck 315 of the oral careimplement 300. Specifically, in this embodiment there are twodepressions 330 formed into the rear surface of the neck 315 (visible inFIG. 6) and two depressions 330 formed into the front surface of theneck 315 (one of which is visible in FIG. 7). In other embodiments theremay be two depressions 330 formed into one of the front or rear surfacesof the neck 315 only, there may be a single depression 330 formed intoeach of the front and rear surfaces of the neck 315, or the like.

One of a first electrode 340 and a second electrode 350 is positionedwithin each of the depressions 330. At least one, and possibly both, ofthe first and second electrodes 340, 350 may be a sacrificial electrodein some embodiments as described herein. The first and second electrodes340, 350 are operably coupled to a power source 360 to have oppositeelectric charges similar to that which was described above. In theexemplified embodiment, there is provided one of the first electrodes340 and one of the second electrodes 350 on each of the front and rearsurfaces of the neck 315, the first and second electrodes 340, 350having an opposite charge. However, in other embodiments all of theelectrodes on the front surface of the neck 315 may have a first chargeand all of the electrodes on the rear surface of the neck 315 may have asecond charge that is opposite the first charge. Thus, variations in thetype of electrode within each depression 330 are possible in variousalternative embodiments. Because less saliva is present on the neck 315of the oral care implement 300 during use than on the head 310, it maybe beneficial in this embodiment to have one of each of the first andsecond electrodes 340, 350 on each of the front and rear surfaces of theneck 315 to ensure that the electrodes 340, 350 are sufficiently closetogether so that saliva will act as the electrolyte and close thecircuit as discussed herein.

Each of the first electrodes 340 has an exposed surface 341 and each ofthe second electrodes 350 has an exposed surface 351. As with thepreviously described embodiment, in this embodiment the exposed surfaces341, 351 of each of the first and second electrodes 340, 350 arerecessed relative to the exposed outer surface of the neck 315. Thus,for the electrodes 340, 350 positioned on the front surface of the neck315, the exposed surfaces 341, 351 of the electrodes 340, 350 arerecessed relative to the front surface of the neck 315 and for theelectrodes 340, 350 positioned on the rear surface of the neck 315, theexposed surfaces 341, 351 of the electrodes 340, 350 are recessedrelative to the rear surface of the neck 315.

Referring to FIGS. 8-10 concurrently, an oral care implement 400 will bedescribed in accordance with another embodiment of the presentinvention. Certain features of the oral care implement 400 areillustrated in the drawings but not described herein, it beingunderstood that the description of the similar feature of the oral careimplement 100 provided above is applicable. The oral care implement 400generally comprises a head 410, a handle 420, and a neck 415 extendingbetween the handle 420 and the head 410. The head 410 has an exposedouter surface that comprises a front surface 411, an opposite rearsurface 412, and a side surface 413 extending between the front and rearsurfaces 411, 412. Furthermore, the head 410 extends along alongitudinal axis D-D from a proximal end that is coupled to the handle420 to a distal end. The side surface 413 of the head 410 comprises afirst portion 414 located on a first side of the longitudinal axis A-Aand a second portion 415 located on a second side of the longitudinalaxis A-A.

In this embodiment, a first depression 430 is formed into the firstportion 414 of the side surface 413 of the head 410 and a seconddepression 440 is formed into the second portion 415 of the side surface413 of the head 410. The first depression 430 is defined by a floor 431that is recessed relative to the first portion 414 of the side surface413 of the head 410 and a sidewall 432 that extends from the floor 431to the first portion 414 of the side surface 413 of the head 410.Similarly, the second depression 440 is defined by a floor 441 that isrecessed relative to the second portion 415 of the side surface 413 ofthe head 410 and a sidewall 442 that extends from the floor 441 to thesecond portion 415 of the side surface 413 of the head 410. Each of thefirst and second depressions 430, 440 are formed by grooves that areformed directly into the side surface 413 of the head 410.

A first electrode 450 is positioned within the first depression 430 anda second electrode 460 is positioned within the second depression 440.At least one, and possibly both, of the first and second electrodes 450,460 may be a sacrificial electrode in some embodiments as describedherein. Each of the first and second electrodes 450, 460 is operablycoupled to a power source 470 so that the first and second electrodes450, 460 have opposite electrical charges (one of the first and secondelectrodes 450, 460 has a positive electric charge and the other of thefirst and second electrodes 450, 460 has a negative electric charge).The first electrode 450 is positioned within the first depression 430 soas to be in contact with the floor 431 and a portion of the sidewall 432of the first depression 430. The second electrode 460 is positionedwithin the second depression 440 so as to be in contact with the floor441 and a portion of the sidewall 442 of the second depression 440.However, the invention is not to be so limited and the first and secondelectrodes 450, 460 may be in contact with the floor 431, 441 of thefirst and second depressions 430, 440, respectively, but not also thesidewalls 432, 442. Furthermore, other arrangements are possible.

However, in the exemplified embodiment the first electrode 450 has anexposed surface 451 that is recessed relative to the first portion 414of the side surface 413 of the head 410. Similarly, in the exemplifiedembodiment the second electrode 460 has an exposed surface 461 that isrecessed relative to the second portion 415 of the side surface 413 ofthe head 410. Thus, the exposed surfaces 451, 461 of each of the firstand second electrodes 450, 460 are recessed relative to the side surface413 of the head 410 on which they are located. In certain embodiments,the depths of the first and second depressions 430, 440 measured fromthe side surface 413 of the head 410 to the exposed surface 451, 461 ofthe first and second electrodes 450, 460 is greater than a width of thefirst and second depression 430, 440, as described above with referenceto FIG. 5. This reduces the likelihood of a user's oral cavity surfacescontacting the first and second electrodes 450, 460 during use of theoral care implement 400.

In the exemplified embodiment, each of the first and second depressions430, 440 is elongated in a direction of the longitudinal axis D-D alongthe respective portion 414, 415 of the side surface 413 of the head 410into which it is formed. Furthermore, each of the first and seconddepressions 430, 440 terminates in an elongated opening in therespective portion 414, 415 of the side surface 413 of the head 410. Theexact length of the first and second depression 430, 440 (and the firstand second openings) is not to be limiting of the present invention inall embodiments although they may be elongated and extend a majority ofa length of the head 410 in some embodiments.

It should be appreciated that in this embodiment the head 410 is notnecessarily hollow, but rather it is preferably solid but merelyincludes the depressions 430, 440 are its opposite lateral sides. Thus,there is no passageway extending through the head 410 that connects thefirst and second depressions 430, 440, but rather the first and seconddepressions 430, 440 are discrete and separate depressions 430, 440located on opposite sides of the head 410 that are separatedtransversely by the material of the head 410. Thus, the depressions 430,440 are merely channels or grooves or elongated cut-outs formed into theside surface 413 of the head 410, each depression 430, 440 having itsown floor and sidewalls as described herein and illustrated in thedrawings.

Referring to FIGS. 11-13 concurrently, an oral care implement 500 willbe described in accordance with another embodiment of the presentinvention. Certain features of the oral care implement 500 areillustrated in the drawings but not described herein, it beingunderstood that the description of the similar feature of the oral careimplement 100 provided above is applicable. The oral care implement 500generally comprises a head 510, a handle 520, and a neck 515 extendingbetween the handle 520 and the head 510. The head 510 has an exposedouter surface that comprises a front surface 511, an opposite rearsurface 512, and a side surface 513 extending between the front and rearsurfaces 511, 512. Furthermore, the head 510 extends along alongitudinal axis E-E from a proximal end 516 that is coupled to thehandle 520 to a distal end 517.

In this embodiment, a plurality of tooth cleaning elements 501 extendfrom the front surface 511 of the head 510 for cleaning a user's teethand gums. The tooth cleaning elements 501 may be any type of toothcleaning element as described herein above and may be secured to thehead 510 using any technique now known or later discovered. Furthermore,in this embodiment a soft tissue cleaner 502 is provided on the rearsurface 512 of the head 510. The soft tissue cleaner 502 may comprise apad portion 503 and a plurality of protuberances 506 extending from thepad portion 503. Specifically, the pad portion 503 comprises an exposedupper surface 504 and an opposite lower surface 505 that is in contactwith the rear surface 512 of the head 510. The plurality ofprotuberances 506 extend from the upper surface 504 of the pad portion503 and are exposed for direct contact with the user's oral cavity andtongue during use of the oral care implement 500. The soft tissuecleaner 502 may be formed of an elastomeric material such as athermoplastic elastomer and it may be injection molded onto the rearsurface 512 of the head 510. The soft tissue cleaner 502 may be injectedmolded into a basin-like cavity formed into the rear surface 512 of thehead 510, or it may be injection molded directly onto the outermost partof the rear surface 512 of the head 510.

In this embodiment the soft tissue cleaner 502 comprises a protuberancefield 507. The protuberance field 507 is the region of the soft tissuecleaner 502 that is bounded by the outer-most ones of the protuberances506. Thus, the protuberance field 507 is the region of the soft tissuecleaner 502 that has the protuberances 506 thereon.

Furthermore, in this embodiment the oral care implement 500 comprises afirst electrode 550 and a second electrode 560, each of which isoperably coupled to a power source 570 to have an opposite electricalcharge. Thus, one of the first and second electrodes 550, 560 has apositive electrical charge while the other one of the first and secondelectrodes 550, 560 has a negative electrical charge. At least one, andpossibly both, of the first and second electrodes 550, 560 may be asacrificial electrode in some embodiments as described herein. As bestseen in FIG. 13, the first electrode 550 is disposed within a firstdepression 530 formed into the head 510 and the second electrode 560 isdisposed within a second depression 540 formed into the head 510. Aswith the previously described embodiments, an exposed surface 551 of thefirst electrode 550 and an exposed surface 561 of the second electrode560 are recessed relative to the rear surface 512 of the head 510.Although recessing the first and second electrodes 550, 560 relative tothe rear surface 512 of the head 510 is shown in the drawings, it is notnecessarily required in this embodiment.

In this embodiment, the first and second electrodes 550, 560substantially surround the protuberance field 507. More specifically, inthis embodiment the first and second electrodes 550, 560 collectivelysurround the soft tissue cleaner 502 and the protuberance field 507.Thus, each of the first and second electrodes 550, 560 is positionedaround a portion of the soft tissue cleaner 507 so that collectively thefirst and second electrodes 550, 560 substantially surround the softtissue cleaner 502. In that regard, in the exemplified embodiment eachof the first and second electrodes 550, 560 is positioned on the rearsurface 512 of the head 510 and they may extend partially onto the sidesurface 513 of the head 510 as well. In some embodiments the soft tissuecleaner 502 may take up a majority or the entirety of the rear surface512 of the head 510, and in such instances the first and secondelectrodes 550, 560 may be located mostly or entirely on the sidesurface 513 of the head 510. The first electrode 550 is located on therear surface 512 of the head 510 on a first side of the longitudinalaxis E-E and the second electrode 560 is located on the rear surface 512of the head 510 on a second side of the longitudinal axis E-E that isopposite the first side of the longitudinal axis E-E. The firstelectrode 550 is adjacent to the soft tissue cleaner 502 on a first sideof the soft tissue cleaner 502 and the second electrode 560 is adjacentto the soft tissue cleaner 502 on a second side of the soft tissuecleaner 502. In the exemplified embodiment, each of the first and secondelectrodes 550, 560 are substantially C-shaped, although the inventionis not to be so limited in all embodiments.

The protuberance field 507 extends from a first end 508 to a second end509 along the longitudinal axis E-E. Furthermore, each of the first andsecond electrodes 550, 560 extend axially beyond both the first andsecond ends 508, 509 of the protuberance field 507.

Although the first and second electrodes 550, 560 substantially surroundthe soft tissue cleaner 502, they are also spaced apart from oneanother. In that regard, in the exemplified embodiment the first andsecond electrodes 550, 560 are spaced apart by a first gap 553 locatedon the longitudinal axis E-E adjacent the proximal end 516 of the head510 and a second gap 554 located on the longitudinal axis E-E adjacentthe distal end 517 of the head 510. Thus, it is the first and secondelectrodes 550, 560 substantially surround the soft tissue cleaner 502due to the existence of the first and second gaps 553, 554, which arenecessary because the first and second electrodes 550, 560 must bemaintained in a spaced apart manner for an electric field to begenerated as described herein.

Although in the exemplified embodiment the first and second electrodes550, 560 are illustrated wrapping around the distal and proximal ends ofthe soft tissue cleaner 502, this is not required in all embodiments. Insome embodiments the first electrode 550 may be positioned on a firstside of the soft tissue cleaner 502 while the second electrode 560 ispositioned on a second opposite side of the soft tissue cleaner 502. Insuch an embodiment, each of the first and second electrodes 550, 560 maybe elongated in a direction of the longitudinal axis E-E without havinga curved portion that wraps around the soft tissue cleaner 502. In stillother embodiments, each of the first and second electrodes 550, 560 mayby itself substantially surround the soft tissue cleaner 502, such thatthe first and second electrodes 550, 560 are positioned in a concentricarrangement. Thus, modifications in the exact shape of the first andsecond electrodes 550, 560 are possible within the scope of theinvention described herein.

Furthermore, in the exemplified embodiment the first and secondelectrodes 550, 560 are each spaced apart from the pad 503 of the softtissue cleaner 502 by a portion of the exposed outer surface of the head510. Thus, the soft tissue cleaner 502 is spaced apart from each of thefirst and second electrodes 550, 560. More specifically, an annularportion 518 of the outer surface of the head 510 separates each of thefirst and second electrodes 550, 560 from the soft tissue cleaner 502.Although in the exemplified embodiment the first and second electrodes550, 560 are located adjacent to but not on (i.e., spaced apart from)the pad portion 503 of the soft tissue cleaner 502, in other embodimentsthe first and second electrodes 550, 560 may be located directly on aperipheral/perimeter region of the pad portion 503 of the soft tissuecleaner 502 so as to surround the protuberance field 507. Thus, thefirst and second electrodes 550, 560 would still collectively surroundthe protuberance field 507, but they would not surround the pad portion503 of the soft tissue cleaner 502 because they would be located on theperimeter region of the pad portion 503.

In the exemplified embodiment, the exposed surfaces 551, 561 of thefirst and second electrodes 550, 560 are oriented at an oblique anglerelative to the front and rear surfaces 511, 512 of the head 510. Statedanother way, the exposed surface 551 of the first electrode 550 islocated on a first reference plane RP1 that is oblique to the frontsurface 511 of the head 510 and the exposed surface 561 of the secondelectrode 560 is located on a second reference plane RP2 that is obliqueto the front surface 511 of the head 510. The first and second referenceplanes RP1, RP2 are oriented so as to diverge with increasing distancefrom the front surface 511 of the head 510 in a direction opposite therear surface 512 of the head 510 and converge with increasing distancefrom the rear surface 512 of the head 510 in a direction opposite thefront surface 511 of the head 510. Of course, the orientation of theexposed surfaces 551, 561 of the first and second electrodes 550, 560 isnot to be limiting of the present invention in all embodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 14-16A, an oral care implement 600 will be describedin accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention.Certain features of the oral care implement 600 are illustrated in thedrawings but not described herein, it being understood that thedescription of the similar feature of the oral care implement 100provided above is applicable. The oral care implement 600 generallycomprises a head 610, a handle 620, and a neck 615 extending between thehandle 620 and the head 610. The head 610 has an exposed outer surfacethat comprises a front surface 611, an opposite rear surface 612, and aside surface 613 extending between the front and rear surfaces 611, 612.Furthermore, the head 610 extends along a longitudinal axis F-F from aproximal end 616 that is coupled to the handle 620 to a distal end 617.

The oral care implement 600 comprises a plurality of tooth cleaningelements 601 extending from the front surface 611 of the head 610. Thetooth cleaning elements 601 may be any type of tooth cleaning element ashas been described herein above. The tooth cleaning elements 601 may besecured to the head 610 using any technique now known or laterdiscovered. Furthermore, in this embodiment a soft tissue cleaner 602 iscoupled to the rear surface 612 of the head 610. The soft tissue cleaner602 may comprise a pad portion 603 and a plurality of protuberances 606extending from the pad portion 603. Specifically, the pad portion 603comprises an exposed upper surface 604 and an opposite lower surface 605that is in contact with the rear surface 612 of the head 610. Theplurality of protuberances 606 extend from the upper surface 604 of thepad portion 603 and are exposed for direct contact with the user's oralcavity and tongue during use of the oral care implement 600. Theplurality of protuberances 606 collectively define a protuberance field607 such that the protuberance field 607 that is bounded by theouter-most ones of the protuberances 606.

The protuberances 606 are nub-like elements that extend from the uppersurface 604 of the pad portion 603 of the soft tissue cleaner 602. Thenub-like elements are arranged on the pad portion 603 of the tissuecleaner 602 in a spaced apart manner and they may be arranged in alignedrows, aligned columns, or in a random array. In the exemplifiedembodiment, the protuberances are in the shape of a cone and they taperto a pointed tip. However, the invention is not to be so limited and theprotuberances 606 may be rounded in other embodiments and may have moreof a semi-spherical shape. Furthermore, in still other embodiments theprotuberances 606 may include ridges extending across the pad portion603 of the soft tissue cleaner 602. Thus, the invention is not to belimited by the structure and shape of the protuberances 606 in allembodiments, but rather the protuberances 606 may be any element thatprotrudes from the upper surface 604 of the pad portion 603 for directengagement with a user's oral cavity surfaces. Although not mentionedabove, this description of the protuberances 606 is also applicable tothe protuberances 506 and any other soft tissue cleaner protuberancesdescribed herein.

The soft tissue cleaner 602 (including both the pad portion 603 and theprotuberances 606) may be formed of an elastomeric material such as athermoplastic elastomer and it may be injection molded onto the rearsurface 612 of the head 610. The soft tissue cleaner 502 may be injectedmolded into a basin-like cavity formed into the rear surface 612 of thehead 610 (discussed in more detail below with reference to FIG. 16B), orit may be injection molded directly onto the outermost part of the rearsurface 612 of the head 610. In other embodiments, the soft tissuecleaner 502 may be formed separately from the head 610 and then latercoupled to the head 610 using mechanical or chemical means.

The oral care implement 600 also comprises a first electrode 650 and asecond electrode 660, each of which is operably coupled to a powersource 670 to have an opposite electrical charge. In the exemplifiedembodiment, the oral care implement 600 has two of the first electrodes650 and two of the second electrodes 660. Each of the first electrodes650 has the same electrical charge (i.e., positive or negative) and eachof the second electrodes 660 has the same electrical charge (i.e.,positive or negative) such that each of the first electrodes 650 has thesame electrical charge that is opposite to the electrical charge of eachof the second electrodes 660. In this embodiment, the first and secondelectrodes 650, 660 are positioned on the rear surface 612 of the head610, and more specifically within the protuberance field 607 of the softtissue cleaner 602, in an alternating arrangement in a direction of thelongitudinal axis F-F. Thus, whereas with the oral care implement 500the first and second electrodes 550, 560 surrounded the protuberancefield 507 and the soft tissue cleaner 502, in this embodiment the firstand second electrodes 650, 660 are located within the protuberance field607 of the soft tissue cleaner 602. In the exemplified embodiment, eachof the first electrodes 650 is axially adjacent to one of the secondelectrodes 660 and vice versa. In certain embodiments, at least one ofthe first and second electrodes 650, 660 may be a sacrificial electrode.Furthermore, in some embodiments both of the first and second electrodes650, 660 may be sacrificial electrodes.

As noted above, in this embodiment each of the first and secondelectrodes 650, 660 is at least partially, and preferably entirelylocated within the protuberance field 607 of the soft tissue cleaner602. In the exemplified embodiment, a first depression 630 and a seconddepression 640 are formed into the upper surface 604 of the pad portion603 of the soft tissue cleaner 602. Each of the first electrodes 650 ispositioned within one of the first depressions 630 and each of thesecond electrodes 660 is positioned within one of the second depressions640. In the exemplified embodiment, each of the first and seconddepressions 630, 640 are elongated in a direction transverse to thelongitudinal axis F-F. However, the invention is not to be so limitedand the first and/or second depressions 630, 640 may be elongated in adirection oblique or parallel to the longitudinal axis F-F in otherembodiments. Furthermore, the first and/or second depressions 630, 640may be annular or formed in the shape of a closed-geometry polygon inother embodiments. In some embodiments, the first and second depressionsmay be arranged as concentric circles. Thus, the exact structuralembodiment of the first and second depressions 630, 640 (and hence alsoof the first and second electrodes 650, 660 that are positioned withinthe first and second depressions 630, 640) is not to be limiting of thepresent invention in all embodiments.

In this embodiment the depressions 630, 640 are grooves that are formeddirectly into the pad portion 603 of the soft tissue cleaner 602. Thus,the depressions 630, 640 comprise a floor and sidewalls much like thedepressions discussed previously in this document, the difference beingthat the depressions 630, 640 are formed into the pad portion 603 of thesoft tissue cleaner 602 rather than directly onto the head 610 of theoral care implement 600.

As best seen in FIG. 16A, in the exemplified embodiment the firstelectrodes 650 have an exposed surface 651 and the second electrodes 660have an exposed surface 661. In the exemplified embodiment, the exposedsurfaces 651 of the first electrodes 650 and the exposed surfaces 661 ofthe second electrodes 660 are flush with the upper surface 604 of thepad portion 603 of the soft tissue cleaner 602. However, the inventionis not to be so limited in all embodiments and in other embodiments theexposed surfaces 651, 661 of the first and second electrodes 650, 660may be recessed relative to the upper surface 604 of the pad portion 603of the soft tissue cleaner 602.

In still other embodiments, the exposed surfaces 651, 661 of the firstand second electrodes 650, 660 may protrude beyond the upper surface 604of the pad portion 603 of the soft tissue cleaner 602 while remainingrecessed relative to the distal ends of the protuberances 606. Forexample, referring to FIG. 16B an alternative arrangement of the firstand second electrodes 650, 660 on the soft tissue cleaner 602 isillustrated. Specifically, in this embodiment there are no depressionsformed into the soft tissue cleaner 602 for retaining the first andsecond electrodes 650, 660. Rather, in this embodiment the first andsecond electrodes 650, 660 are positioned directly atop the uppersurface 604 of the pad portion 603 of the soft tissue cleaner 602. Thus,the first and second electrodes 650, 660 are not recessed relative to orflush with the upper surface 604 of the pad portion 603 of the softtissue cleaner 602, but rather they protrude from the upper surface 604of the pad portion 603 of the soft tissue cleaner 602. Nonetheless, theexposed surfaces 651, 661 of the first and second electrodes 650, 660are recessed relative to the distal ends 608 of the protuberances 606.As a result, direct contact between the user's oral cavity surfaces andthe first and second electrodes 650, 660 can be prevented.

Furthermore, in the embodiment of FIG. 16B, the rear surface 612 of thehead 610 has a basin 680 formed therein. The basin 680 has a floor 681and sidewalls 682 extending from the floor 681 to the rear surface 612of the head 610. In this embodiment, the soft tissue cleaner 602 islocated within the basin 680 so that the upper surface 604 of the padportion 603 of the soft tissue cleaner 602 is flush with the rearsurface 612 of the head 610. This is different from the embodiment ofFIG. 16A where the soft tissue cleaner 602 is merely positioned on therear surface 612 of the head 610 and not within any basin or cavityformed therein. Various combinations of the embodiments shown in FIGS.16A and 16B are possible. For example, the pad portion 603 of the softtissue cleaner 602 may be positioned within a basin as shown in FIG. 16Band the electrodes 650, 660 may be positioned within depressions 630,640 formed into the upper surface 604 of the pad portion 603 of the softtissue cleaner 602 as shown in FIG. 16A. Thus, different permutations ofthese embodiments are possible as would be appreciated by personsskilled in the art.

Referring now to FIGS. 17-19A, an oral care implement 700 will bedescribed in accordance with another embodiment of the presentinvention. Certain features of the oral care implement 700 areillustrated in the drawings but not described herein, it beingunderstood that the description of the similar feature of the oral careimplement 100 provided above is applicable. The oral care implement 700generally comprises a head 710, a handle 720, and a neck 715 extendingbetween the handle 720 and the head 710. The head 710 has an exposedouter surface that comprises a front surface 711, an opposite rearsurface 712, and a side surface 713 extending between the front and rearsurfaces 711, 712. Furthermore, the head 710 extends along alongitudinal axis G-G from a proximal end 716 that is coupled to thehandle 720 to a distal end 717. A plurality of tooth cleaning elements701 are coupled to the head 710 to extend from the front surface 711 ofthe head 700. Although not illustrated, a soft tissue cleaner may becoupled to the rear surface 712 of the head 710 as described above.

In this embodiment, the oral care implement 700 comprises a through-hole780 extending through the head 710 from a first opening 781 in the sidesurface 713 of the head 710 to a second opening 782 in the side surface713 of the head 710. Each of the first and second openings 781, 782 iselongated in a direction of the longitudinal axis G-G. In theexemplified embodiment, the first opening 781 and the second opening 782extend along a substantial entirety of an axial length of the head 710.Thus, the head 710 has openings 781, 782 in its opposing side surfacesand a through-hole 780 extending between the openings 781, 782 thatcreate a transverse passageway extending along a majority of the lengthof the head 710.

In the exemplified embodiment the through-hole 780 extends along an axisH-H that is transverse to the longitudinal axis G-G. Specifically, theside surface 713 of the head 710 comprises a first lateral portion 714on a first side of the longitudinal axis G-G, a second lateral portion718 on a second side of the longitudinal axis G-G that is opposite thefirst side of the longitudinal axis G-G, and a distal portion 719extending between the first and second lateral portions 714, 718. Thedistal portion 719 of the side surface 713 comprises the distal end 717of the head 710. The first opening 781 is formed into the first lateralportion 714 of the side surface 713 of the head 710 and the secondopening 782 is formed into the second lateral portion 718 of the sidesurface 713 of the head 710. Of course, the invention is not to be solimited in all embodiments and in other embodiments the first opening781 may be located in one of the first and second lateral portions 714,718 of the side surface 713 while the second opening 782 is located inthe distal portion 719 of the side surface 713. Thus, the through-hole780 may be oblique rather than transverse to the longitudinal axis G-G.

In the exemplified embodiment, each of the first and second openings781, 782 is elongated in a direction of the longitudinal axis G-G of thehead 710 such that they extend along substantially the entirety of thefirst and second lateral portions 714, 718 of the side surface 713 ofthe head 710, respectively. Of course, the first and second openings781, 782 may be reduced in length in other embodiments. In any event,the through-hole 780 forms a passageway 785 through the head 710 that isbounded by an upper surface 783 and a lower surface 784. In theexemplified embodiment, there is no barrier between the first and secondopenings 781, 782 and the passageway 785 formed by the through-hole 780is a continuous, unimpeded passageway 785 extending transversely throughthe head 710 of the oral care implement 700 from the first opening 781to the second opening 782. In alternative embodiments, a barrier elementmay be provided within the passageway 785 between the upper and lowersurfaces 783, 784 as discussed briefly below.

In this embodiment, the oral care implement 700 comprises a plurality offirst electrodes 750 on the upper surface 783 of the passageway 785 anda plurality of second electrodes 760 on the lower surface 784 of thepassageway 785. Although three of the first electrodes 750 and three ofthe second electrodes 760 are illustrated in the exemplified embodiment,there could be just a single one of each of the first and secondelectrodes 750, 760 or any number of electrodes as desired. Each of thefirst and second electrodes 750, 760 is operably coupled to a powersource 770 (located on the handle 720 or elsewhere as described herein)so that the first electrodes 750 and the second electrodes 760 haveopposite electrical charges (i.e., one of the first and secondelectrodes 750, 760 may be an anode and the other of the first andsecond electrodes 750, 760 may be a cathode). In certain embodiments, atleast one or both of the first and second electrodes 750, 760 may be asacrificial electrode, the details of which have been described hereinabove.

In the exemplified embodiment, a plurality of first depressions 730 areformed into the upper surface 783 of the passageway 785 and a pluralityof second depressions 740 are formed into the lower surface 784 of thepassageway 785. Each of the first and second depressions 730, 740 isdefined by a floor and a sidewall as described above with regard to thepreviously described embodiments. Each of the first electrodes 750 ispositioned within one of the first depressions 730 and each of thesecond electrodes 760 is positioned within one of the second depressions740. In the exemplified embodiment, each of the first and seconddepressions 730, 740 (and hence also each of the first and secondelectrodes 750, 760) is elongated and extends in a direction generallytransverse to the longitudinal axis G-G. However, the invention is notto be so limited in all embodiments and the depressions 730, 740 andelectrodes 750, 760 may be oriented oblique or parallel to thelongitudinal axis G-G, or they may be arranged in any other manner ashas been described throughout this document. Furthermore, either asingle electrode or multiple electrodes may be positioned within each ofthe first and second depression 730, 740.

In some embodiments the depressions 730, 740 may be omitted and thefirst and second electrodes 750, 760 may be located directly atop theupper and lower surfaces 783, 784 of the passageway 785. Specifically,because the first and second electrodes 750, 760 are located within thepassageway 785, there may not be a need to recess the electrodes 750,760 relative to the upper and lower surfaces 783, 784 of the passageway785 because the passageway itself will prevent direct contact betweenthe user's oral cavity surfaces and tongue with the first and secondelectrodes 750, 760.

In the exemplified embodiment, each of the first depressions 530 andeach of the first electrodes 550 is axially spaced apart (in a directionof the axis G-G) along the upper surface 783 of the passageway 785.Similarly, each of the second depressions 540 and each of the secondelectrodes 560 is axially spaced apart (in a direct of the axis G-G)along the lower surface 784 of the passageway 785. Of course, dependingon the specific orientation and arrangement of the depressions 530, 540and the electrodes 550, 560, they may be transversely spaced apart (in adirection of the axis H-H) or obliquely spaced apart in otherembodiments.

Although in the exemplified embodiment only the first electrodes 750(which all have the same electrical charge) are located on the uppersurface 783 of the passageway 785 and only the second electrodes 760(which all have the same electrical charge) are located on the lowersurface 784 of the passageway 785, this is not required in allembodiments. Specifically, in other embodiments one or more of the firstelectrodes 750 and one or more of the second electrodes 760 may bepositioned on the upper surface 783. Similarly, one or more of the firstelectrodes 750 and one or more of the second electrodes 760 may bepositioned on the lower surface 784. Other variations will be describedbelow with reference to FIGS. 19B and 19C.

Furthermore, in the exemplified embodiment an exposed surface 751 of thefirst electrodes 750 is recessed relative to the upper surface 783 ofthe passageway 785 and an exposed surface 761 of the second electrodes760 is recessed relative to the lower surface 784 of the passageway 785.However, the invention is not to be so limited and the exposed surfaces751, 761 of the first and second electrodes 750, 760 may be flush withthe upper and lower surfaces 783, 784 of the passageway 785 or they mayprotrude beyond the upper and lower surfaces 783, 784 of the passageway785 in various alternative embodiments. Regardless of whether the firstand/or second electrodes 750, 760 are recessed relative to, flush with,or protrude from the respective upper and lower surfaces 783, 784 of thepassageway 785, the exposed surfaces 751, 761 of the first and secondelectrodes 750, 760 face the passageway 785. Furthermore, in theexemplified embodiment the exposed surfaces 751, 761 of the first andsecond electrodes 750, 760 face one another within the passageway 785.

Despite facing each other within the passageway 785, in the exemplifiedembodiment the first electrodes 750 on the upper surface 783 of thepassageway 785 are axially offset from the second electrodes 760 on thelower surface 784 of the passageway 785. Thus, a reference plane that isperpendicular to the front surface and/or rear surface 711, 712 of thehead 710 that intersects one of the first electrodes 750 will not alsointersect one of the second electrodes 760, and vice versa. Thus, thefirst electrodes 750 are aligned with a portion of the lower surface 784of the passageway 785 rather than being aligned with the secondelectrodes 760 and the second electrodes 760 are aligned with a portionof the upper surface 783 of the passageway 785 rather than being alignedwith the first electrodes 750. This helps to prevent ions that arereleased from the first and/or second electrodes 750, 760 (when they aresacrificial electrodes) from passing onto the other one of the firstand/or second electrodes 750, 760. Specifically, when the ions arereleased they have a tendency to attract to the oppositely chargedelectrodes. By axially offsetting the first and second electrodes 750,760, the ions that are released are more likely to flow within thesaliva or toothpaste slurry into the user's oral cavity to provide theuser with a benefit than to be attached into the oppositely chargedelectrode. The same purpose may be achieved with the use of a barrier,which may be in the form of a plate-like member suspended within thepassageway 785 between the upper and lower surfaces 783, 784 thereof.

Referring now to FIG. 19B, an alternative embodiment of the oral careimplement 700 is illustrated. In this embodiment, the plurality of firstdepressions 730 having the first electrodes 750 therein are formed intothe upper surface 783 of the passageway 785 formed by the through-holesimilar to the embodiment of FIG. 19B. However, in this embodimentinstead of the second depressions 740 with the second electrodes 760therein being located on the lower surface 784 of the passageway 785,they are formed on the front surface 711 of the head 710. Specifically,in this embodiment the plurality of second depressions 740 are formedinto the front surface 711 of the head 710. The plurality of secondelectrodes 760 are positioned within the second depressions 740 so thatthe second electrodes 760 are located on the front surface 711 of thehead 710. As with the previously described embodiments, the exposedsurfaces 751 of the first electrodes 750 may be recessed relative to theupper surface 783 of the passageway 785 and the exposed surfaces 761 ofthe second electrodes 760 may be recessed relative to the front surface711 of the head 710.

Of course, in other embodiments there may be depressions with firstelectrodes 750 therein on the lower surface 784 of the passageway 785and depression with second electrodes 760 therein on the rear surface712 of the head 710. In still other embodiments the depressions with thefirst electrodes 750 may be located on the upper surface 784 of thepassageway 785 and the depressions with the second electrodes 760 may belocated on the rear surface 712 of the head 710. In further embodiments,the depression with the first electrodes 750 may be located on the frontsurface 711 of the head 710 and the depressions with the secondelectrodes 760 may be located on the lower surface 784 of the passageway785. Thus, variations in the positioning of the first and secondelectrodes 750, 760 are possible. In such embodiments, portions of thehead 710 (i.e., the portion between the front surface 711 and thepassageway 785 and the portion between the rear surface 712 and thepassageway 785) may form a barrier to prevent ions from passing from oneof the electrodes to the other as discussed above.

Referring to FIG. 19C, yet another embodiment of the oral care implement700 is illustrated. In this embodiment, there are a plurality ofdepressions 730 on the upper surface 783 of the passageway 785, aplurality of depressions 735 on the front surface 711 of the head 710, aplurality of depressions 740 on the lower surface 784 of the passageway785, and a plurality of depression 745 on the rear surface 712 of thehead 710. In this embodiment, one or more of the first electrodes 750 ispositioned within each of the depressions 730 on the upper surface 783of the passageway 785 and each of the depression 735 on the frontsurface 711 of the head 710. Furthermore, one or more of the secondelectrodes 760 is positioned within each of the depressions 740 on thelower surface 783 of the passageway 785 and each of the depressions 745on the rear surface 712 of the head 710. In this embodiment, similarlycharged electrodes 750 are positioned on the front surface 711 of thehead 710 and on the upper surface 783 of the passageway 785 andsimilarly charged electrodes 760 are positioned on the rear surface 712of the head 710 and on the lower surface 784 of the passageway 785.

However, this could be modified in any manner. For example, the firstelectrodes 750 could be on the front surface 711 of the head 710 and therear surface 712 of the head 710 with the second electrodes 760positioned on the upper and lower surfaces 783, 784 of the passageway785. Alternatively, the first electrodes 750 could be on the frontsurface 711 of the head 710 and the lower surface 784 of the passageway785 while the second electrodes 760 are on the upper surface 783 of thepassageway 785 and the rear surface 712 of the head 710. In still otherembodiments, at least one of the first electrodes 750 and at least oneof the second electrodes 760 may be positioned on at least one of thefront and rear surfaces 711, 712 of the head 710 and/or at least one ofthe upper and lower surfaces 783, 784 of the passageway 785. In someembodiments, at least one of the first electrodes 750 and at least oneof the second electrodes 760 may be positioned on each of the front andrear surfaces 711, 712 of the head 710 and the upper and lower surfaces783, 784 of the passageway 785. Thus, modifications to the particularlocations for the first and second electrodes 750, 760 are possiblewithin the scope of the invention described herein so long as thefunctionality described herein is achieved.

Referring to FIGS. 20-22 concurrently, an oral care implement 800 willbe described in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.Certain features of the oral care implement 800 are illustrated in thedrawings but not described herein, it being understood that thedescription of the similar feature of the oral care implements 100, 700provided above is applicable. The oral care implement 800 generallycomprises a head 810, a handle 820, and a neck 815 extending between thehandle 820 and the head 810. The head 810 has an exposed outer surfacethat comprises a front surface 811, an opposite rear surface 812, and aside surface 813 extending between the front and rear surfaces 811, 812.A plurality of tooth cleaning elements 801 are coupled to the head 810to extend from the front surface 811 of the head 800. Although notillustrated, a soft tissue cleaner may be coupled to the rear surface812 of the head 810 as described above.

The structure of the head 810 is generally identical to the structure ofthe head 710 of the oral care implement 700 described above. Thus, thehead 810 comprises a through-hole 880 extending from a first lateralportion 814 of the side surface 813 to a second lateral portion 818 ofthe side surface 813. The through-hole 880 extends from a first opening881 in the first lateral portion 814 of the side surface 813 of the head810 to a second opening 882 in the second lateral portion 818 of theside surface 813 of the head 810. The through-hole 880 forms atransverse passageway 885 through the head 810 that is defined by anupper surface 883 and a lower surface 884.

The main difference between the oral care implement 800 and the oralcare implement 700 is in the structure/type of the electrodes.Specifically, in this embodiment a first electrode 850 is provided onthe upper surface 883 of the passageway 885 and a second electrode 860is provided on the lower surface 884 of the passageway 885. Each of thefirst and second electrodes 850, 860 is operably coupled to a powersource 870, which may be located in the handle 820 as shown or in otherlocations as described herein. The first and second electrodes 850, 860are coupled to the power source 870 so as to have opposite electricalcharges. Thus, the first electrode 850 may have a positive electricalcharge and the second electrode 860 may have a negative electricalcharge, or vice versa. In this embodiment, each of the first and secondelectrodes 850, 860 are mesh electrodes. The mesh-style electrodes mayform a grid-like structure with two sets of parallel strips thatintersect each other (e.g., similar to the structure of a door andwindow screen). Forming the first and second electrodes 850, 860 as meshelectrodes gives them a greater surface area to ensure simultaneouscontact with saliva during use of the oral care implement 800 forgeneration of an electric field and release of ions. In that regard, atleast one, and possibly both, of the first and second electrodes 850,860 may be sacrificial electrodes as discussed herein above.

In the exemplified embodiment, the first electrode 850 forms most of ifnot the entirety of the upper surface 883 of the passageway 885 whilethe second electrode 860 forms most of if not the entirety of the lowersurface 884 of the passageway 885. Although in the exemplifiedembodiment the mesh electrodes are positioned on the opposing upper andlower surfaces 883, 884 of the passageway, the invention is not to be solimited in all embodiments. In some embodiments, the first and secondmesh electrodes 850, 860 may both be positioned on the same one of theupper and lower surfaces 883, 884 of the passageway 885 in an axiallyspaced apart manner. In other embodiments, the first and second meshelectrodes 850, 860 may both be positioned on the front or rear surfaces811, 812 of the head 810 (such embodiment may omit the through-hole 880and passageway 885). In other embodiments the first and second meshelectrodes 850, 860 may be positioned on any combination of the frontand rear surfaces 811, 812 of the head 810 and the upper and lowersurfaces 883, 884 of the passageway 880. Thus, variation in theparticular location of the mesh-style electrodes on the oral careimplement is possible and falls within the scope of the inventiondescribed herein.

Referring now to FIGS. 23 and 24, an oral care implement 900 will bedescribed in accordance with another embodiment of the presentinvention. Certain features of the oral care implement 900 areillustrated in the drawings but not described herein, it beingunderstood that the description of the similar feature of the oral careimplements 100, 300-800 provided above is applicable. The oral careimplement 900 generally comprises a head 910, a handle 920, and a neck915 extending between the handle 920 and the head 910. The oral careimplement 900 and specifically the head 910 extends along a longitudinalaxis I-I. The head 910 has an exposed outer surface that comprises afront surface 911, an opposite rear surface 912, and a side surface 913extending between the front and rear surfaces 911, 912. A plurality oftooth cleaning elements 901 are coupled to the head 910 to extend fromthe front surface 911 of the head 900. Although not illustrated, a softtissue cleaner may be coupled to the rear surface 912 of the head 910 asdescribed above.

In this embodiment, the oral care implement 900 comprises a plurality offirst depressions 930 having a first electrode 950 therein and aplurality of second depression 940 having a second electrode therein960. Each of the first and second electrodes 950, 960 is operablycoupled to a power source 970 so that the first and second electrodes950, 960 have opposite electrical charges. In the exemplifiedembodiment, the first and second electrodes 950, 960 are disposed withinthe first and second depressions 930, 940 so that they have exposedsurfaces 951, 961 that are recessed relative to the outer surface of thehead 910. However, the invention is not to be so limited in allembodiments of the oral care implement 900. Each of the first and secondelectrodes 950, 960 are elongated in a direction generally transverse tothe longitudinal axis I-I of the head 910. In the exemplifiedembodiment, each of the first electrodes 950 and each of the secondelectrodes 960 are located on the rear surface 912 of the head 910.However, the invention is not to be so limited and one or more of thefirst and/or second electrodes 950, 960 may be located on the frontsurface 911 of the head 910 in other embodiments. At least one, andpossibly both, of the first and second electrodes 950, 960 may be asacrificial electrode in some embodiments, the details of which havebeen described above.

In this embodiment, the oral care implement 900 further comprises anoral care agent dispenser 990. In the exemplified embodiment the oralcare agent dispenser 990 is a solid release polymer comprising an oralcare agent. Thus, during use of the oral care implement 900 the oralcare agent dispenser 990 will get wet with saliva and toothpaste slurryand will begin to dissolve, thereby releasing the oral care agent intothe user's oral cavity. In such an embodiment, the oral care agentdispenser 990 may dissolved slowly over time during multiple uses of theoral care implement 900 or it may entirely dissolved within a singleuse. In other embodiments, the oral care agent dispenser 990 may be acapsule that ruptures during use of the oral care implement 900 todispense its contents into the user's oral cavity. Regardless of themanner in which it operates, the oral care agent dispenser 990 containsan oral care agent and releases it into a user's mouth duringtoothbrushing.

In certain embodiments the oral care agent may be a mouthwash, adentifrice, a tooth whitening agent such as peroxide containing toothwhitening compositions, or the like. Other oral care agents include, forexample without limitation, antibacterial agents; oxidative or whiteningagents; enamel strengthening or repair agents; tooth erosion preventingagents; tooth sensitivity ingredients; gum health actives; nutritionalingredients; tartar control or anti-stain ingredients; enzymes; sensateingredients; flavors or flavor ingredients; breath fresheningingredients; oral malodor reducing agents; anti-attachment agents orsealants; diagnostic solutions; occluding agents, dry mouth reliefingredients; catalysts to enhance the activity of any of these agents;colorants or aesthetic ingredients; and combinations thereof. In certainembodiments the oral care agent is free of (i.e., is not) toothpaste.Instead, the oral care agent in such embodiments may be intended toprovide benefits in addition to merely brushing one's teeth. Othersuitable oral care materials could include lip balm or other materialsthat are typically available in a semi-solid state. Furthermore, instill other embodiments the oral care agent can be a natural ingredient,such as for example without limitation, lotus seed; lotus flower, bamboosalt; jasmine; corn mint; camellia; aloe; gingko; tea tree oil; xylitol;sea salt; vitamin C; ginger; cactus; baking soda; pine tree salt; greentea; white pearl; black pearl; charcoal powder; nephrite or jade andAg/Au+. Thus, the invention is not intended to be limited by thespecific type of oral care agent used in some embodiments.

In the exemplified embodiment, there are two of the oral care agentdispensers 990 and they are both located on the rear surface 912 of thehead 910. Specifically, each of the oral care agent dispensers 990 islocated on and protrudes from the rear surface 912 of the head 910. Inother embodiments, a single oral care agent dispenser 990 may be used.In still other embodiments, multiple oral care agent dispensers 990 maybe used and located on the front surface 911 of the head 910 only, or onboth of the front and rear surfaces 911, 912 of the head 910. Whenmultiple oral care agent dispensers 990 are used, they may comprise thesame oral care agent or different oral care agents. In the exemplifiedembodiment, the first and second oral care agent dispensers 990 arelocated on the longitudinal axis I-I in a spaced apart manner. However,the oral care agent dispensers 990 may be positioned at other locationson the rear surface 912 of the head 910 so as to be offset from thelongitudinal axis I-I.

In the exemplified embodiment, the oral care agent dispensers 990 areillustrated as protruding from the exposed outer surface of the head910. However, the invention is not to be so limited in all embodimentsand the oral care agent dispensers 990 may be recessed relative to theexposed outer surface of the head 910 in other embodiments. Furthermore,the oral care agent dispensers 990 may be located within thethrough-hole 980 of the oral care implement 700 described previously.Thus, the oral care agent dispensers 990 need not be placed for directcontact with the user's oral surfaces. Rather, the oral care agentdispensers 990 merely need to be positioned in such a way that salivaand/or toothpaste slurry can contact the oral care agent dispensers 990to cause the oral care agent dispensers 990 to release the oral careagent into the saliva and/or toothpaste slurry so that it may enter intothe user's mouth to provide a particular oral care benefit.

In the exemplified embodiment, the first and second electrodes 950, 960are arranged in pairs such that each pair of electrodes (containing oneof the first electrodes 950 and one of the second electrodes 960)surrounds one of the oral care agent dispensers 990. Thus, for each ofthe oral care agent dispensers 990, the first electrode 950 is locatedon a first side of the oral care agent dispenser 990 and the secondelectrode 960 is located on a second side of the oral care agentdispenser 990. Stated another way, the oral care agent dispenser 990 maybe located on a transverse reference plane that intersects the front andrear surfaces 911, 912 of the head 910 and is oriented transverse to thelongitudinal axis I-I. The first electrode 950 is located on a firstside of the transverse reference plane and the second electrode 960 islocated on a second side of the transverse reference plane.

The first and second electrodes 950, 960 of each pair of electrodes areaxially spaced apart from one another so that a transverse pathway 952is defined between the first and second electrodes 950, 960. The oralcare agent dispenser 990 is located within the transverse pathway 952.

In the exemplified embodiment the first electrode 950 comprises a firstlinear section 953 located adjacent a first lateral portion of the sidesurface 913 of the head 910, a curved section 954, and a second linearsection 955 located adjacent a second lateral portion of the sidesurface 913 of the head 910. The first and second lateral portions ofthe side surface 913 of the head 910 are located on opposite sides ofthe longitudinal axis I-I. The curved section 954 of the first electrode950 is located between the first and second linear sections 953, 955.Furthermore, in the exemplified embodiment the curved section 954 of thefirst electrode 950 is located adjacent to (and in axial alignment with)the oral care agent dispenser 990.

Similarly, the second electrode 960 comprises a first linear section 963located adjacent the first lateral portion of the side surface 913 ofthe head 910, a curved section 964, and a second linear section 965located adjacent the second lateral portion of the side surface 913 ofthe head 910. The curved section 964 of the second electrode 960 islocated between the first and second linear sections 963, 965.Furthermore, in the exemplified embodiment the curved section 964 of thesecond electrode 960 is located adjacent to (and in axial alignmentwith) the oral care agent dispenser 990. Moreover, the curved section964 of the second electrode 960 is axially aligned with the curvedsection 954 of the first electrode 950. In the exemplified embodiment,the curved sections 954, 964 of the first and second electrodes 950, 960have concave sides facing the oral care agent dispenser 990. However,the invention is not to be so limited in all embodiments and a convexside of one or both of the curved sections 954, 964 of the first andsecond electrodes 950, 960 may face the oral care agent dispenser 990 inother embodiments.

In the exemplified embodiment the curved sections 954, 964 of the firstand second electrodes 950, 960 collectively surround the oral care agentdispenser 990. Having linear and curved sections ensures that the firstand second electrodes 950, 960 are positioned sufficiently close to theoral care agent dispenser 990 to ensure that ions released from thefirst and/or second electrodes 950, 960 will interact with the oral careagent released from the oral care agent dispenser 990. In someembodiments, the electrodes 950, 960 may include only the curvedsections 954, 964 and the linear sections 953, 955, 963, 965 may beomitted.

Although in the exemplified embodiment there are two oral care agentdispensers 990, each with one of the first and second electrodes 950adjacent thereto, the invention is not to be so limited in allembodiments. In one alternative embodiment, the oral care implement 900may include a first electrode 950 and a second electrode 960 each ofwhich is oriented so as to be elongated in a direction parallel to thelongitudinal axis I-I. In such an embodiment, the first and secondelectrodes 950, 960 may each include two curved sections such that oneof the curve sections is adjacent to each of the oral care agentdispensers 990. These types of permutations and modifications should bereadily understood and appreciated by persons skilled in the art.

Referring to FIGS. 25-26, another embodiment of an oral care implement1000 will be described. Certain features of the oral care implement 1000are illustrated in the drawings but not described herein, it beingunderstood that the description of the similar feature of the oral careimplements 100, 300-900 provided above is applicable. The oral careimplement 100 generally comprises a head 1010, a handle 1020, and a neck1015 extending between the handle 1020 and the head 1010. The oral careimplement 1000 and specifically the head 1010 extends along alongitudinal axis J-J. The head 1010 has an exposed outer surface thatcomprises a front surface 1011, an opposite rear surface 1012, and aside surface 1013 extending between the front and rear surfaces 1011,1012. A plurality of tooth cleaning elements 1001 are coupled to thehead 1010 to extend from the front surface 1011 of the head 1010.Although not illustrated, a soft tissue cleaner may be coupled to therear surface 1012 of the head 1010 as described above.

The oral care implement 1000 comprises first and second electrodes 1050,1060 that are disposed within first and second depressions 1030, 1040,respectively, as has been described in detail throughout thisdisclosure. The first and second electrodes 1050, 1060 are each operablycoupled to a power source 1070 to have an opposite electrical charge.Specifically, the first electrodes 1050 have a first electrical charge(positive or negative) and the second electrodes 1060 have a secondelectrical charge (positive or negative) that is opposite the firstelectrical charge of the first electrodes 1050. The oral care implement1000 also comprises an oral care agent dispenser 1090. The oral careimplement 1000 of FIGS. 25-26 is very similar to the oral care implement900 of FIGS. 23-24 except with regard to the arrangement of the firstand second electrodes 1050, 1060 and the details of the oral care agentdispenser 1090.

In this embodiment, the oral care implement 1000 comprises a reservoir1092 located within the handle 1020. Of course, the reservoir 1092 couldbe located within the neck 1015 or even the head 1010 in otherembodiments. The reservoir 1092 stores an oral care agent, which may beany of the oral care agents noted herein above during the description ofthe oral care implement 900. In this embodiment, the oral care agentdispenser 1090 comprises an outlet 1091 located on the rear surface 1012of the head 1011. The outlet 1091 is fluidly coupled to the reservoir1092 so that the oral care agent stored within the reservoir 1092 can bedispensed into a user's oral cavity via the outlet 1091. In certainembodiments the oral care implement 1000 may include one or more pumpsto dispense the oral care agent from the reservoir 1092 to the outlet1091. In other embodiments, the oral care agent may flow from thereservoir 1092 to the outlet 1091 via capillary action through acapillary tube.

In the exemplified embodiment, the outlet 1091 is located on the rearsurface 1012 of the head 1010. However, the invention is not to be solimited in all embodiments and the outlet 1091 may be located on thefront surface 1011 of the head 1010 (within the field of the toothcleaning elements 1001) in other embodiments. Similarly, although thefirst and second electrodes 1050, 1060 are located on the rear surface1012 of the head 1010 in the exemplified embodiment, they may be locatedon the front surface 1011 of the head 1010 or on both of the front andrear surfaces 1011, 1012 of the head 1010 in other embodiments.

In the exemplified embodiment, there are two pairs of first and secondelectrodes 1050, 1060 on the rear surface of the head 1010. The firstpair of electrodes 1050, 1060 is located on a first side of the outlet1091 and the second pair of electrodes 1050, 1060 is located on a secondside of the outlet 1091 that is opposite the first side of the outlet1091. However, the invention is not to be so limited and in otherembodiments the first and second electrodes 1050, 1060 of each pair ofelectrodes may be located on opposite sides of the outlet 1091.Specifically, one of the first electrodes 1050 may be located adjacentthe outlet 1091 and between the outlet 1091 and the distal end of thehead 1010 and one of the second electrodes 1060 may be located adjacentto the outlet 1091 and between the outlet 1091 and the handle 1020.Thus, some variation is possible within the scope of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIGS. 27 and 28 concurrently, an oral care implement 1100is illustrated in accordance with a final embodiment of the presentinvention. The oral care implement is a combination of the oral careimplement 900 and the oral care implement 1000. Certain detail so thatthe oral care implement 1100 will not be described herein, it beingunderstood that the descriptions of the oral care implements 100 and300-1000, and particularly the oral care implements 900, 1000, isapplicable. Thus, for features shown in FIGS. 27-28 and not described,reference to the previous disclosure is applicable.

The oral care implement 1100 generally comprises a head 1110, a handle1120, and a neck 1115 extending between the head 1110 and the handle1120. The head 1110 has a front surface 1111 with tooth cleaningelements 1101 extending therefrom and an opposite rear surface 1112. Inthe exemplified embodiment, first and second electrodes 1150, 1160 arelocated on the rear surface 1112 of the head 1110 within depressions1130, 1140 formed into the rear surface 1112 of the head 1110. Ofcourse, the electrodes 1150, 1160 may be positioned at other locationson the head 1110 in other embodiments as has been described thoroughlyherein. The electrodes 1150, 1160 are each operably coupled to a powersource 1170 so that the first electrodes 1150, have an opposite chargerelative to the second electrodes 1160. The electrodes 1150, 1160 may berecessed relative to the exposed outer surface (i.e., front surface1111, rear surface 1112, or side surface that extends therebetween) ashas been described above. Furthermore, at least one of the first andsecond electrodes 1150, 1160, and possibly both, may be a sacrificialelectrode in some embodiments.

In this embodiment the oral care implement 1100 comprises a reservoir1192 for storing an oral care agent. Furthermore, the oral careimplement 1100 comprises a first oral care agent dispenser 1190bcomprising a solid release polymer (as described above with reference toFIGS. 23 and 24) and a second oral care agent dispenser 1190a comprisingan outlet 1191 that is fluidly coupled to the oral care agent in thereservoir 1192. The oral care agent in the reservoir 1192 and the solidrelease polymers may be the same oral care agent or different oral careagents, depending on the desired result. In the exemplified embodimentthere are six solid release polymers illustrated, however in otherembodiments there may simply be a single solid release polymer or anydesired number of solid release polymers. Each of the solid releasepolymers may comprise the same oral care agent or different oral careagents. Thus, in this embodiment there is both dispensing of oral carematerial from solid release polymers and from an outlet that is coupledto a reservoir located within the oral care implement 1100.

In the exemplified embodiment, one of the first electrodes 1150 and oneof the second electrodes 1160 are illustrated. Of course, more than oneof each of the first and second electrodes 1150, 1160 may be included onthe oral care implement 1100 in other embodiments. In this embodimentthe first and second electrodes 1150, 1160 are located adjacent to andon opposite sides of a set of three of the solid release polymers.However, the first and second electrodes 1150, 1160 may be positionedadjacent to the outlet 1191 instead of or in addition to being adjacentto the solid release polymers. Regardless of the specific location andstructure of the electrodes 1150, 1160, it may be desirable in someembodiments to have the electrodes 1150, 1160 sufficiently close to theoutlet 1191 and/or the solid release polymers so that ions released fromthe electrodes 1150, 1160 can mix with the oral care agent to enhancethe effect and performance of the oral care agent and/or to produce aunique active agent that is not possible with just the oral care agentsor just the electrodes 1150, 1160.

Some embodiments described above describe oral care implementsincorporating a sacrificial electrode to release ions that providebenefits in the oral cavity. To the extent that some implementationscontemplate placing electrical components and/or generating electricalfields in the oral cavity, it should be noted that the devices may beoperated with sufficiently low current and voltage that will not have anadverse effect to the oral cavity or the user. For example, currents onthe order of not more than 5 milliamps and voltages of no greater thanabout 3 Volts may be used to generate ions according to some embodimentsof this disclosure. Furthermore, in some embodiments the electrodes arerecessed within the oral care implement body so that exposed surfaces ofthe electrodes will not come into direct contact with the user's oralcavity surfaces, which will also reduce any adverse effects such aselectric shock or the like.

Each of the electrodes described herein can take on any number ofdifferent forms, including being wire-type electrodes, mesh-typeelectrodes, or any other physical configuration and/or combinationincluding wound coils, flat electrodes, porous electrodes, and the like.The number of electrodes, windings, and the surface area of theelectrodes are not limiting of the present invention in all embodimentsand these may vary. The electrodes can be made from any material and canhave both semiconducting and conducting properties to target a desiredeffect. In some embodiments the electrodes may be plated with asacrificial metal material that makes the electrodes sacrificialelectrodes as described herein and in other embodiments the electrodesmay be formed entirely from a sacrificial metal. In various embodiments,the electrodes can interact with saliva, toothpaste, liquid chemistry,solid release polymers, and/or any combinations to enhance the effectand performance of the chemistry delivery.

While the invention has been described with respect to specific examplesincluding presently preferred modes of carrying out the invention, thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variationsand permutations of the above described systems and techniques. It is tobe understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural andfunctional modifications may be made without departing from the scope ofthe present invention. Thus, the spirit and scope of the inventionshould be construed broadly as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An oral care implement comprising: a handle; ahead coupled to the handle and extending from a proximal end to a distalend along a longitudinal axis, the head comprising a front surface, arear surface opposite the front surface, and a side surface extendingbetween the front and rear surfaces; a transverse through-hole extendingfrom a first opening in the side surface of the head to a second openingin the side surface of the head, the transverse through-hole forming apassageway through the head, the passageway being defined by an uppersurface and a lower surface; a first electrode and a second electrodeoperably coupled to a power source and located on the head; and whereinthe first electrode is located on one of the upper and lower surfaces ofthe passageway so that an exposed outer surface of the first electrodefaces the passageway.
 2. The oral care implement according to claim 1wherein at least one of the first and second electrodes is a sacrificialelectrode.
 3. The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein thefirst electrode comprises an exposed outer surface that is recessedrelative to the one of the upper and lower surfaces of the passageway onwhich it is located.
 4. The oral care implement according to claim 1wherein the first electrode is located on the upper surface of thepassageway and the second electrode is located on the lower surface ofthe passageway so that the first and second electrodes face one anotherwithin the passageway.
 5. The oral care implement according to claim 4wherein the first electrode has an exposed surface that is recessedrelative to the upper surface of the passageway and the second electrodehas an exposed surface that is recessed relative to the lower surface ofthe passageway.
 6. The oral care implement according to claim 4 whereinthe first electrode comprises a first portion that is exposed within thepassageway and a second portion that is exposed on the front surface ofthe head, and wherein the second electrode comprises a first portionthat is exposed within the passageway and a second portion that isexposed on the rear surface of the head.
 7. The oral care implementaccording to claim 5 wherein the second portion of the first electrodeis recessed relative to the front surface of the head and wherein thesecond portion of the second electrode is recessed relative to the rearsurface of the head.
 8. The oral care implement according to claim 4wherein the first and second electrodes are axially offset such that aplane that is perpendicular to the front surface of the head and to thelongitudinal axis intersects one of the first and second electrodeswithout intersecting the other one of the first and second electrodes.9. The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein the side surfaceof the head comprises a first lateral portion, a second lateral portion,and a distal portion extending between the first and second lateralportions, and wherein the first opening of the transverse through-holeis located on the first lateral portion of the side surface of the headand the second opening of the transverse through-hole is located on thesecond lateral portion of the side surface of the head.
 10. The oralcare implement according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality oftooth cleaning elements extending from the front surface of the head.11. The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein one of thefirst and second electrodes is a cathode and the other of the first andsecond electrodes is an anode.
 12. The oral care implement according toclaim 1 further comprising a plurality of the first electrodes locatedon the upper surface of the passageway and a plurality of the secondelectrodes located on the lower surface of the passageway.
 13. The oralcare implement according to claim 12 wherein each of the first andsecond electrodes extend across the head in a direction transverse tothe longitudinal axis, each of the first electrodes being spaced apartfrom one another in an axial direction and each of the second electrodesbeing spaced apart from one another in the axial direction.
 14. The oralcare implement according to claim 1 wherein the passageway extends fromthe first opening to the second opening along an axis that is transverseto the longitudinal axis of the head.
 15. An oral care implementcomprising: a handle; a head coupled to the handle and comprising afront surface, a rear surface opposite the front surface, and first andsecond lateral surfaces extending between the front and rear surfaces; aplurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from the front surface ofthe head; a through-hole formed through the head from the first lateralsurface of the head to the second lateral surface of the head, thethrough-hole being defined by an upper surface and a lower surface; afirst electrode operably coupled to a power source and located on theupper surface of the through-hole; and a second electrode operablycoupled to the power source and located on the lower surface of thethrough-hole.
 16. The oral care implement according to claim 15 whereinat least one of the first and second electrodes is a sacrificialelectrode.
 17. The oral care implement according to claim 15 wherein oneof the first and second electrodes is an anode and the other of thefirst and second electrodes is a cathode.
 18. The oral care implementaccording to claim 15 wherein the first electrode has an exposed surfacethat is recessed relative to the upper surface of the through-hole andthe second electrode has an exposed surface that is recessed relative tothe lower surface of the through-hole, the exposed surfaces of the firstand second electrodes facing one another within the through-hole. 19.The oral care implement according to claim 15 wherein the head extendsfrom a proximal end to a distal end along a longitudinal axis, andwherein the first and second electrodes are axially offset with oneanother along the longitudinal axis, each of the first and secondelectrodes being elongated in a direction transverse to the longitudinalaxis.